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FROM   THE  LIBRARY  OF 
REV.   LOUIS    FITZGERALD    BENSON.   D.  D. 

BEQUEATHED   BY   HIM   TO 

THE  LIBRARY  OF 

PRINCETON  THEOLOGICAL  SEMINARY 


Section  ■*Jp7ok 


THE  UNELECTED  INFANT. 

An  Unelected  Infant  sighed  out  its  little  breath. 
And  wandered  through  the    darkness  along  the 

shores  of  death, 
Until  the  gates  of  heaven,  agleam  with  pearl,  it 

SpiCUy 

And  ran  to  them  and  clung  there  and  would  not  be 

denied. 
Though  stUl  from  earth  rose  mutterings  —  «  You 

cannot  enter  in ; 

Depart  into    Gehenna,  you    child    of    wrath  and 
sin ! 

At  last  the  gates  were  opened;  a  man   with   feat- I 
ures  mild  I 

"'Sd  chTid.'°*' '''''' ''''  "^^p*°^  ^°^  u°- 

I™™o«al  light  thrilled  softly  down    avenues  of 
As^_on  the  infant's  forehead  the  spirit  placed  a  I 

u  ^^'^  "uM  1°°'  *^°^  *°  ^*"ow  an  unelected  brow  ?  " 
Dear  child,  my  name  was   Calvin,  but  I  see  things 
better  now.  °   ' 

____^ —  Exchange,     j 


GON  ^ 
ILE    

0.      ^ 

I  M 

5.A.    — ! 

1^ 
=1 

R 

i  ^ 

THE 


of  §(Bm 


OK,  A 

POETICAL  DESCRIPTION 

OF  THE 

GEEAT  AND  LAST 

JUDGMENT: 

iXIUl)  ©tlier  Poems. 

1//        BY 

MICHAEL  WIGGLESWOETH,  A.M., 

TeacTier  of  the  Church  at  Maiden  in  New  England, 
16G2. 

ALSO  A  irEMOm  OF  THE  AUTHOR,  AUTOBIOG- 

BAPHY,  AND  SKETCH  OF  HIS  FUNERAL 

SERMON  BY  REV.  COTTON 

MATHER. 


Acts  17 :  31.  Because  he  batli  appointed  a  Day  in  the  which  he 
"Will  judge  the  World  in  Righteousness  by  that  Man  whom  he  hath 
ordained. 

Mat.  24 :  30.  And  then  shall  appear  the  sign  of  the  Son  of  Man  in 
Heaven,  and  then  shall  all  the  tribes  of  the  Earth  mourn,  and  they 
shall  see  the  Son  of  Man  coming  in  the  clouds  of  Heaven  with  power 
and  great  glory. 


FROM  THE  SIXTH  EDITION,  1715. 


Wcto    ITorfe; 

AMERICAN  NEWS   COMPANY. 

1867. 


£         mS 


Entered  according  to  Act  of  Congress,  in  the  year  of  our  Lord,  1867,  by 

WM.    HENRY    BURE, 

In  the  Clerk's  office  of  the  District  Court  of  the  United  States,  for  the  Southern 
District  of  New  York. 


C.  S.  Westcott  &  Co.,  Printers,  19  Jobn  street. 


MEMOIR  OF  THE  AUTHOR. 


The  following  is  the  substance  of  an  article  published 
in  the  "New  England  Historical  and  Genealogical 
Register,"  for  April,  1863,  written  b}^  John  Ward 
Dean,  Esq.,  of  Boston : 

A  century  ago  no  poetry  was  more  popular  in  New 
England  than  Wigglesworth's  Day  of  Doom.  Francis 
Jenks,  Esq.,  in  an  article  in  the  Christian  Examiner  for 
Nov.,  1828,  speaks  of  it  as  "a  work  which  was  taught 
our  fathers  with  their  catechisms,  and  which  many  an 
aged  person  with  whom  we  are  acquainted  can  still  re- 
peat, though  they  may  not  have  met  with  a  copy  since 
they  were  in  leading  strings  ;  a  work  that  was  hawked 
about  the  country,  printed  on  sheets  like  common  bal- 
lads ;  and,  in  fine,  a  work  which  fairly  represents  the 
prevailing  theology  of  New  England  at  the  time  it  was 
written,  and  which  INlather  thought  might,  '  perhaps, 
find  our  children  till  the  Day  itself  arrives.'  " 

The  popularity  of  Wigglesworth  dated  from  the  ap- 
pearance of  his  poem,  and  continued  for  more  than  a  cen- 
tury. Expressing  in  earnest  words  the  theology  which 
they  believed,  and  picturing  in  lively  colors  the  terrors 
of  the  judgment  day  and  the  awful  wrath  of  an  offended 
God,  it  commended  itself  to  those  zealous  Puritans,  who 
had  little  taste  for  lofty  rhyme  or  literary  excellence. 
The  imaginative  j'outh  devoured  its  horrors  with  avidity, 
and  shuddered  at  its  fierce  denunciation  of  sin.  In  the 
darkness  of  night  he  saw  its  frightful  forms  arise,  and 
was  thus  driven  to  seek  the  "  ark  of  safety"  from  the 


4  MEM  OIROFTIIE    AUTHOR.' 

wratli  of  Jeliovah.  For  the  last  century,  however,  the 
reputation  of  the  Day  of  Doom  has  waned,  and  few  at 
the  present  day  know  it  except  by  reputation. 

The  author  of  this  book,  whose  wand  had  summoned 
up  such  images  of  terror,  was  neither  a  cynic  nor  a 
misanthrope,  though  sickness,  which  generally  brings  out 
these  dispositions  where  they  exist,  had  long  been  his 
doom.  His  attenuated  frame  and  feeble  health  were 
joined  to  genial  manners  ;  and,  though  subject  to  fits  of 
despondency,  he  seems  generally  to  have  maintained  a 
cheerful  temper,  so  much  so  that  some  of  his  friends 
believed  his  ills  to  be  imaginary. 

Rev.  Michael  Wigglesworth  was  born  October  28, 
1631,  probably  iu  Yorkshire,  England.  He  was  brought 
to  this  country  in  1038,  being  then  seven  years  old,  but 
in  what  ship  we  are  not  informed.  His  father,  Edward 
Wigglesworth,  was  one  of  those  resolute  Puritans  who, 
with  their  families,  found  an  asylum  where  they  could 
enjoy  their  religion  without  molestation  in  our  then 
New  England  wilderness,  the  distance  of  which  from 
their  English  homes  can  hardly  be  appreciated  now. 
Here  they  suffered  the  severe  hardships  of  a  rigorous  cli- 
mate, and  the  fearful  dangers  from  savage  tribes  around 
them,  while  uniting  to  build  up  villages  which  are  now 
cities,  and  which  still  retain  some  of  the  characteristics 
of  their  Puritan  founders.  The  determined  purpose  and 
strength  of  principle  that  conquered  every  obstacle  was 
a  school  of  severe  training  for  the  children  of  that 
period.  It  was  natural  that  a  father  who  had  endured 
so  much  for  conscience'  sake  should  desire  to  see  his 
only  son  a  clergyman ;  and,  although  the  father's  means 
were  not  large,  the  son  was  devoted  to  the  ministry  and 
given  a  thorough  education.  ]\Iichael,  after  nearly  three 
years  of  preparatory  studies,  entered  Harvard  College 
in  1047.     Here  he  had  the  good  fortune  to  have  for  a 


MEMOIROFTHEAUTHOR.  5 

tutor  tLe  excellent  Jonathan  Mitchell,  "the  glory  of 
the  college,"  and  famous  as  a  preacher.  The  friendship 
here  begun  appears  to  have  continued  after  both  had 
left  the  college  walls.  Probably  the  eight  stanzas  "  on 
the  following  work  and  its  author,"  signed  J.  Mitchel, 
were  written  by  that  tutor  and  preacher,  who  was  a 
native  of  Yorkshire,  the  county  in  which  Wigglesworth 
is  believed  to  have  been  born. 

In  1G51  Mr.  Wigglesworth  graduated,  and  was  soon 
after  appointed  a  tutor  in  the  College.  Some  of  his 
pupils  were  men  of  note  in  their  day.  Among  them 
were,  Rev.  Shubael  Dummer,  of  York,  Me. ;  Rev.  John 
Eliot,  of  Newton  ;  and  Rev.  Samuel  Torry,  of  Wey- 
mouth ;  but  the  chief  of  them,  it  will  be  admitted,  was 
Rev.  Increase  Slather,  D.D.,  pastor  of  the  second  church 
in  Boston,  and  for  sixteen  years  president  of  Harvard 
College.  That  the  tutor  was  faithful  to  his  trust,  we 
have  evidence  from  the  sketch  of  the  funeral  sermon 
appended  to  this  work,  preached  by  Rev.  Cotton  Slather, 
D.D.,  son  of  Increase,  who  probably  derived  his  infor- 
mation from  his  father. 

While  a  tutor,  he  prepared  himself  for  the  ministry, 
and  before  his  father's  death  he  had  preached  several 
times.  He  was  invited,  probably  in  the  autumn  of 
1654,  to  settle  at  Maiden,  as  the  successor  of  Rev. 
Marmaduke  Slatthews,  but  owing  to  long-continued 
sickness  was  not  ordained  there  till  1056.  The  precise 
date  of  his  ordination  is  not  known,  but  it  must  have 
been  subsequent  to  August  25,  1656,  for  his  letter  of 
dismission  from  the  church  at  Cambridge  bears  that 
date.  This  letter,  addressing  the  "  Chiu-ch  of  Christ  at 
Maldon,"  states  that  "  the  good  hand  of  Divine  Provi- 
dence hath  so  disposed  that  our  beloved  and  highly 
esteemed  brother,  Mr.  Wigglesworth,  hath  his  residence 
and  is  employed  in  the  good  work  of  y«  Lord  amongst 


6  MEMOIR    OF    THE    AUTHOR, 

you,  and  liath  cause  to  desire  of  us  Letters  Dismissive 
to  your  church,  in  order  to  his  joining  as  a  member  with 
you." 

The  ill  health  which  had  delayed  his  ordination  at 
Maiden  returned  soon  after  his  settlement  there,  and 
interrupted  his  ministry  several  years.  lie  took  a  voy- 
age to  Bermuda,  sailing  Sept.  23, 1663,  and  being  absent 
about  seven  months  and  a  half.  But  the  tedious  and 
stormy  voyage  seems  to  have  impaired  his  health  so 
much  that  the  change  of  climate  afforded  him  little  re- 
lief, and  he  returned  much  discouraged.  He  met  with 
a  very  cordial  welcome  from  his  friends  and  parish- 
ioners. 

"While  he  was  thus  withheld  from  his  ministry,  he 
employed  his  time  in  literary  labors.  His  Day  of  Doom 
was  published  about  1662,  the  year  before  his  voyage  to 
Bermuda.  The  first  edition  consisting  of  1,800  copies, 
was  sold,  with  some  profit  to  the  author,  within  a  year, 
which  considering  the  population  and  wealth  of  New 
England  at  that  time,  shows  almost  as  remarkable  a 
popularity  as  that  of  Uncle  Totji's  Cabin. 

"While  absent  on  his  voyage  in  search  of  health,  Dec. 
9,  1663,  Rev.  Benjamin  Bunker  was  ordained  pastor  of 
the  church  at  Maiden.  It  seems  that  a  distinction  was 
observed  at  this  time  in  New  England  between  pastor 
and  teacher.  Wigglesworth  calls  Bunker  "  pastor"  in 
some  verses  composed  on  his  death,  while  on  the  title- 
page  of  this  work  he  calls  himself  "  teacher."  After 
Wigglesworth  became  sole  minister,  he  was  probably 
considered  the  pastor.  Bunker  held  this  office  over  six 
years,  till  his  death,  Feb.  3,  1669-70.  In  the  elegy  on 
the  death  of  his  colleague,  Wigglesworth  highly  extols 
Bunker's  piety  and  usefulness.  The  next  colleague  of 
our  author  was  Rev.  Benjamin  Blackman,  settled  about 
1674.     He  supplied  the  desk  four  years  and  upward. 


MEMOIROFTHEAUTHOR.  J 

and  left  in  the  year  1679.  His  next  colleague  was  Rev. 
Thomas  Cheever,  son  of  his  early  teacher,  the  celebrated 
New  England  schoolmaster,  Ezekiel  Cheever,  author  of 
Latin  Accidence.  These  three  ministers  were  all  edu- 
cated at  Harvard  College,  Bunker  having  graduated  in 
1658,  Blackman  in  1663,  and  Cheever  in  1677.  Mr. 
Cheever  began  to  preach  at  Maiden  Feb.  14, 1679-80,  was 
ordained  July  27, 1681,  and  was  dismissed  May  20, 1686. 

Wigglesworth,  though  long  prevented  by  sickness 
from  officiating,  never  resigned  his  ministerial  charge, 
as  appears  from  a  letter  which  he  addressed  to  Samuel 
Sprague,  July  22,  1687.  He  was  now  left  alone  as 
minister  of  the  church.  He  had,  however,  recovered 
his  health  in  a  measure  about  this  time,  which  had  suf- 
fered for  nearly  twenty  years,  and  for  the  remainder  of 
his  life  he  continued  in  public  usefulness. 

He  died  on  Sunday  morning,  June  10,  1705,  in  the 
74th  3'ear  of  his  age.  The  epitaph  on  the  last  page  of 
this  work  is  believed  to  have  been  written  by  Cotton 
Mather,  as  it  appears  in  the  appendix  to  his  funeral 
sermon  as  by  "  one  that  had  been  gratified  by  his  3Ieat 
out  of  the  Eater  and  Day  of  Doom.'''' 

Mr.  Wigglesworth  had  at  least  three  wives  :  Mary, 
daughter  of  Humphrey  Eeyner,  of  Rowley ;  INIartha, 
whose  maiden  name  was  probably  Mudge ;  and  Sybil, 
widow  of  Dr.  Jonathan  Avery,  of  Dedham,  and  daughter 
of  Nathaniel  Sparhawk,  of  Cambridge. 

By  his  first  wife  he  had  (1)  Mercy^  b.  Feb.,  1655-6 ;  m.  1st, 
rSamuel  ?"]  Brackenbury,  by  whom  she  had  at  least  one  son, 
William;  m.  2d,  [Rev.  Samuel?]  Belcher. 

By  his  second  wife,  Martha,  who  d.  11th  Sept.,  1090,  a.  28,  he 
had: — (2)  Abigail,  b.  20th  March,  1681;  ni.  Samuel  Tappan, 
23d  Dec,  1700;— (3)  Mary,  b.  21st  Sept.,  1682  ;  unm.  in  1708  ;— 

(4)  Martha,  b.  21st  Dec,  1683 ;  m. "Wheeler ;— (5)  Esther, 

b.  16th  April,  1685;  m.  1st,  John  Sewall.  June  8,  1708,  who  d. 
1711 ;  m.  2d,  Abraham  Tappan,  Oct.  21,  1713 ;— (6)  Dorothy,  b. 
22d  Feb.,  1687-88;  m.  2d  June,  1709,  James  Upham  ;— (7)  Eev. 
Samuel,  b.  4th  Feb.,  1689-90,  d.  3d  Sept,,  1768. 


8  MEMOIROFTHEAUTHOR. 

By  his  third  wife,  Sybil,  who  d.  Gth  Aut;.,  1708,  a.  53,  he 
had:— (8)  Prof.  Edward,  D.D.,  b.  about  1692,  d.  Jan.  16, 
1765. 

Rev.  Samuel  Wigglesworth,  the  elder  son,  was  settled  in  Ham- 
ilton Parish,  in  Ipswich,  Mass.,  in  1714.  He  m.  1st,  Marj',  dau. 
of  John  Brintnal,  of  "Winnisimmet,  30th  June,  1715,  who  d.  June 
6,  1723,  a.  28,  having  borne  him  four  children,  Mary,  Michael, 
Martha,  and  Phebe.  He  m.  March  12,  1730,  Martha  Brown,  and 
had  nine  children. 

Edward  Wigglesworth,  D.D.,  the  j'ounger  son,  took  his  degree 
of  Bachelor  of  Arts  in  1710,  and  applied  himself  to  the  study  of 
Divinity.  He  preached  for  some  time  in  different  parishes,  and 
in  1722  was  installed  Hollis  Professor  of  Divinity  of  Harvard 
College.  Not  long  afterward  he  was  chosen  one  of  the  fellows  of 
the  corporation.  He  left  an  only  son,  who  succeeded  him  as 
Hollis  Professor  in  the  same  college,  and  an  only  sui'viving 
daughter,  who  married  Prof.  Sewall. 

The  following  are  tlie  various  editions  of  the  Day  of 
Doom,  so  far  as  we  have  been  able  to  ascertain : 

The  first  edition  was  published  in  1661  or  1662,  and 
the  second  four  years  after.  These  facts  are  obtained 
from  memoranda  by  the  author,  which  are  printed  in 
the  Historical  Magazine  for  December,  1863.  An  edition 
was  printed  in  London,  England,  without  the  author's 
name,  in  1673.  This  was,  probably,  the  third  impres- 
sion; the  date  of  the  fourth  is  unknown.  The  fifth 
edition  is  said  to  have  been  published  in  1701.  Mr. 
Dean  has  made  diligent  search  and  repeated  inquiries, 
but  can  only  find  two  or  three  copies  of  the  edition  of 
1673,  and  several  fragments  which  must  have  been  parts 
of  some  of  the  other  editions. 

There  was  an  edition  published  at  Newcastle,  in  Eng- 
land, in  1711.  The  next  edition  was  published  in  1715, 
called  "  the  6th  edition,  enlarged,  with  Scripture  and 
marginal  notes" — *'  printed  by  John  Allen,  for  Benjamin 
Eiiot,  at  his  shop  in  King  street."  From  this  .edition, 
which  was  evidently  the  seventh,  the  present  one  is  re- 
printed, being  carefully  compared  with  that  of  1673. 
Another  edition  appeared  in  1751,  "  Printed  and  sold  by 
Thomas  Fleet,  at  the  Heart  and  Crown,  in  Cornhill," 


MEMOIROFTHEAUTHOR.  9 

Boston.  The  next  edition  appeared  in  1811,  "  Publislaed 
by  E.  Little  &  Company,  Newburyport,"  Mass.  The  last 
edition,  prior  to  the  present,  was  published  in  Boston  in 
1828,  by  Charles  Ewer. 

Besides  the  Day  of  Doom,  Mr.  Wigglesworth  published, 
in  1609,  "  Meat  out  of  the  Eater ;  or,  Meditations  con- 
cerning the  necessity  and  usefulness  of  Afflictions  unto 
God's  Children."  The  "fourth  edition"  appeared  in 
1689,  and  subsequent  editions  in  1717  and  1770.  In 
1686  he  preached  an  Election  Sermon,  which  was  printed 
by  the  colony.  Among  his  unpublished  writings  is  a 
poem  entitled  "  God's  Controversy  with  New  England, 
written  in  the  time  of  the  great  Drought,  Anno  1662. 
By  a  lover  of  New  England's  prosperity." 

j\Ir.  "Wigglesworth  borrowed  little  from  other  poets, 
and  what  he  borrowed  was  probably  from  the  commen- 
taries and  theological  treatises  with  which  his  library 
abounded,  rather  than  from  the  poets.  Not  that  his 
style  is  wholly  prosaic,  for  there  are  passages  in  his 
writings  that  are  truly  poetical,  both  in  thought  and 
expression,  and  which  show  that  he  was  capable  of  at- 
taining a  higher  position  as  a  poet  than  can  now  be 
claimed  for  him.  The  roughness  of  his  verses  was  surely 
not  owing  to  carelessness  or  indolence,  for  neither  of 
them  was  characteristic  of  the  man.  The  true  expla- 
nation may  be,  that  he  sacrificed  his  poetical  taste  to  his 
theology,  and  that,  for  the  sake  of  inculcating  sound 
doctrine,  he  was  willing  to  write  in  halting  numbers. 

The  author  of  the  Day  of  Doom,  belonging  to  the 
straitest  sect  of  Puritans,  was,  like  many  others  of  that 
sect,  a  man  of  generous  feeling  toward  his  fellows. 
Rev.  Dr.  Peabody  calls  him  "  a  man  of  the  beatitudes." 
Obedience  to  the  supreme  law  gave  a  heavenly  lustre  to 
his  example  and  a  sweet  fragrance  to  his  memory.  The 
clergy  of  his  day  possessed  a  deep  religious  earnestness 


10  AUTOBIOGRAPHY. 

and  a  fervent  piety.  They  were  Bible  students  and 
men  of  prayer.  Even  many  ivlio  consider  them  erro- 
neous in  doctrine,  are  willing  to  allow  that  they  were 
strict  in  morals ;  that,  if  they  were  wrong  in  faith,  they 
were  right  in  life  ;  that,  if  their  creed  was  opaque,  their 
hearts  were  luminous;  and  that,  if  their  vision  did  not 
discern  the  additional  light  which  the  saintly  Robinson 
had  prophesied  was  yet  to  break  forth  from  God's 
Word,  they  sincerely  accepted  the  light  they  saw. 
They  were  patient,  hopeful,  humble,  believing,  faithful. 
They  stood  on  a  higher  plane  than  their  successors,  and 
exercised  a  proportionally  higher  power  over  their 
hearers.  Their  people  revered  them,  were  constant  in 
attendance  on  their  services,  and  submitted  gladly  to 
their  sway. 


AUTOBIOGBAPHT. 


I  WAS  bom  of  Godly  Parents,  that  feared  ye  Lord  greatly,  even 
from  their  youth,  but  in  an  ungodly  Place,  where  y''  generality 
ofy®  people  rather  derided  than  imitated  their  piety;  in  a  place 
where,  to  my  knowledge,  their  children  had  Learnt  wickedness 
betimes ;  in  a  place  that  was  consumed  with  fire  in  a  great 
part  of  it,  after  God  had  brought  them  out  of  it.  These  godly 
parents  of  mino  meeting  with  opposition  and  persecution  for 
Religion,  because  they  went  from  their  own  Parish  church  to 
hear  y®  word  and  Eeceiv  y®  Lords  supper  &c,  took  up  resolu- 
tions to  pluck  up  their  stakes  and  remove  themselves  to  New 
England :  and  accordingly  they  did  so,  Leaving  dear  Relations, 
friends  and  acquaintance,  their  native  Land,  a  new  built  house, 
a  flourishing  Trade,  to  expose  themselves  to  y"  hazzard  of  y" 
seas,  and  to  y'^  Distressing  difficulties  of  a  howling  wilderness, 
that  they  might  enjoy  Liberty  of  Conscience  and  Christ  in  his 
ordinances.  And  the  Lord  brought  them  hither  and  Landed 
them  at  Charlstown,  after  many  difficulties  and  hazzards,  and 
me  along  with  them,  being  then  a  child  not  full  seven  years 
old.  After  about  7  weeks  stay  at  Charlstown,  my  parents 
removed  again  by  sea  to  New  Haven  in  y^  month  of  October. 
In  our  passage  thither  we  were  in  great  Danger  by  a  storm 
which  drove  us  upon  a  Beach  of  sand  where  we  lay  beating 
til  another  Tide  fetcht  us  off;    but  God  carried  us  to  our  port 


AUTOBIOGRAPHY.  H 

in  safety.  "Winter  approaching  vre  dwelt  in  a  cellar  partly 
under  ground  covered  with  earth  the  first  winter.  But  1 
remember  that  one  great  rain  bralie  in  upon  us  and  drencht 
me  so  in  my  bed,  being  asleep,  that  I  fell  sicli  upon  it ;  but 
ye  Lord  in  mercy  spar'd  my  life  and  restored  my  health.  TVlien 
y8  next  summer  was  come  I  was  sent  to  school  to  Mr.  Ezekiel 
Cheever,  who  at  that  time  taught  school  in  his  own  house,  and 
under  him  in  a  year  or  two  I  profited  so  much  through  y« 
blessing  of  God,  that  I  began  to  make  Latin  and  to  get  forward 
apace.  But  God  who  is  infinitely  wise  and  absolutely  soverain, 
and  gives  no  account  concerning  any  of  his  proceedings,  was 
pleased  about  this  time  to  visit  m}'  father  with  Lameness 
which  grew  upon  him  more  and  more  to  his  dying  Day,  though 
he  liv'd  under  it  13  years.  He  wanting  help  was  fain  to  take 
me  off  from  school  to  follow  other  emploj'nients  for  y^  space 
of  3  or  4  years,  until  I  had  lost  all  that  I  had  gained  in  the  Latin 
Tongue.  But  when  I  was  now  in  my  fourteenth  year,  my 
Father,  who  1  suppose  was  not  wel  satisfied  in  keeping  mo 
from  Learning  whereto  I  had  been  designed  from  my  infancy, 
and  not  judging  mo  fit  for  husbandry,  sent  me  to  school  again, 
though  at  that  time  I  had  little  or  no  disposition  to  it,  but  I 
was  willing  to  submit  to  his  authority  therein  and  accordingly^ 
I  went  to  school  under  no  small  disadvantage  and  discourage- 
ment, Being  those  tliat  were  far  inferior  to  me,  by  my  dis- 
continuance now  gotten  far  before  me.  But  in  a  little  time  it 
appeared  to  be  of  God,  who  was  pleased  to  facilitate  my  worlc 
and  bless  my  studies  that  I  soon  recovered  what  I  had  lost, 
and  gained  a  great  deal  more,  so  that  in  2  years  and  3  quar- 
ters I  wa3  judged  fit  for  ye  CoUedge  and  thither  I  was  sent 
far  from  my  parents  and  acquaintance  among  strangers.  But 
when  father  and  mother  both  forsook  me  then  ye  Lord 
took  care  of  me.  It  was  an  act  of  great  self  denial  in 
my  father  that  notwithstanding  his  own  lameness  and  great 
weakness  of  Body  wliich  required  ye  service  and  helpfulness  of 
a  son,  and  having  but  one  son  to  be  ye  staft"  of  his  age  and  sup- 
porter of  hia  wealiness,  ho  would  yet  for  my  good,  be  content  to 
deny  himself  of  that  comfort  and  Assistance  I  might  have  Lent 
him.  It  was  also  an  evident  proof  of  a  strong  Faith  in  him,  in 
that  ha  durst  adventure  to  send  me  to  ye  Colledge,  though  his 
estate  was  but  small  and  little  enough  to  maintain  himself  and 
small  family  left  at  home.  And  God  let  him  Live  to  see  how 
acceptable  to  himself  this  service  was  in  giving  up  his  only  son  to 
ye  Lord  and  bringing  him  up  to  Learning ;  especially  ye  Lively 
actings  of  his  faith  and  self  denial  herein.  For  first,  notwith- 
standing his  great  weakness  of  body,  yet  he  Lived  til  I  was  so 
far  brought  up  as  that  I  was  called  to  be  a  fellow  of  ye  Col- 
ledge and  improved  in  Publick  service  there,  and  until  I  had 
preached  several  Times ;  yea  and  more  than  so,  he  Lived  to  see 
and  hear  what  God  had  done  for  my  soul  in  turning  me  from 
Darkness  to  light  and  from  ye  power'of  Sathan  unto  God,  which 
filled  his  heart  full  of  joy  and  thankfulness  beyond  what  can  be 
expressed.  And  for  his  outward  estate,  that  was  so  far  from 
being  sunk  by  what  he  spent  from  year  to  year  upon  my  edu- 


12  AUTOBIOGRAPHY. 

cation,  that  in  6  years  time  it  was  plainly  doiiljled,  •nlilcli  him- 
self took  great  notice  of,  and  spake  of  it  to  myself  and  others, 
to  y«  praise  of  God,  with  Admiration  and  thankfulness.  And 
after  he  had  lived  under  great  ar.d  sore  affliction  for  ye  space  of 

13  years  a  pattern  of  faith,  patience,  humility,  and  heavenly 
mindedness,  having  done  his  work  in  my  education  and  receiv  d 
an  answer  to  his  praj'ers,  God  took  him  to  his  Heavenly  Best, 
where  he  is  now  reaping  y«  fruits  of  his  Labors.  When  I  came 
first  to  ye  Colledge,  I  had  indeed  enjoyed  y^  benefit  of  Religious 
and  strict  education,  and  God  in  his  mercy  and  pitty  kept  me 
from  scandalous  sins  before  I  came  thither  and  after  I  came 
there,  but  alas  I  had  a  naughty  vile  heart  and  was  acted  bv 
corrupt  nature,  therefore  could  propound  no  Right  and  nobfe 
ends,  but  acted  from  self  and  for  self.  I  was  indeed  studious 
and  strove  to  outdoe  my  compeers,  but  it  was  for  honour  and 
applause  and  preferment  and  such  poor  Beggarly  ends.  Thus  I 
had  my  Ends  and  God  had  his  Ends  far  ditrering  from  mine,  yet 
it  pleased  him  to  Bless  my  studies,  and  to  make  me  grow  in 
Knowledge  both  in  ye  tongues  and  inferior  Arts  and  also  in  Di- 
vinity. But  when  I  had  been  there  about  three  years  and  a 
half;  God  in  his  Love  and  Pittj^  to  my  soul  wrought  a  great 
change  in  me,  both  in  heart  and  Life,  and  from  that  time  for- 
ward I  learnt  to  study  with  God  and  for  God.  And  whereas 
before  that,  I  had  thoughts  of  applying  myself  to  y^  study  and 
Practice  of  Physick,  I  wholy  laid  aside  those  thoughts,  and  did 
chuse  to  serve  Christ  in  y«  work  of  y"  ministry  if  he  would 
please  to  fit  me  for  it  and  to  accept  of  my  service  in  that  great 
work. 

Note. — ^In  the  foregoing  Autobiography  the  original  spelling  is  re- 
tained, hi  the  following  poems  the  spslling  is  modernized.  The  use  of 
the  acute  accent  (')  to  indicate  the  former  pronunciation  of  the  final  ed  as 
a  separate  syllable  will  be  obvious  ;  in  other  exceptional  cases  the  old 
apostrophe  is  retained.  In  a  few  instances  the  termination  Hon  is 
divided  by  a  hyphen,  to  indicate  its  pronunciation  as  two  syllables 
Ishe-on).    The  modern  double  commas  are  also  used  to  mark  quotations. 

W.  U,  B. 


TO  THE  CHRISTIAN  READER. 


Reader,  I  am  a  fool, 

And  have  adventured 

To  play  the  fool  this  once  for  Christ, 

The  more  his  fame  to  spread. 

If  this  my  foolishness 

Help  thee  to  be  more  wise, 

I  have  attained  what  I  seek. 

And  what  I  only  prize. 

Thou  wonderest,  perhaps, 

That  I  in  Print  appear, 

Who  to  the  Pulpit  dwell  so  nigh, 

Yet  come  so  seldom  there. 

The  God  of  Heaven  knows 

What  grief  to  me  it  is. 

To  be  withheld  from  serving  Christ ; 

No  sorrow  like  to  this. 

This  is  the  sorest  pain 

That  1  have  felt  or  feel ; 

Yet  have  I  stood  some  shocks  that  might 

JNfake  stronger  men  to  reel. 

I  find  more  true  delight 

In  serving  of  the  Lord, 

Than  all  the  good  things  upon  Earth, 

Without  it,  can  afford. 


14  TO    THE    CHRISTIAN    K  E  A  D  E  R 

And  could  my  strength  endure 
That  work  I  count  so  dear, 
Not  all  the  Riches  of  Peru 
Should  hire  me  to  forbear. 
But  I'm  a  Prisoner, 
Under  a  heavy  Chain ; 
Almighty  God's  afflicting  hand 
Doth  me  by  force  restrain. 

Yet  some  (I  kiiow)  do  judge 

Mine  inability 

To  come  abroad  and  do  Christ's  -vrork. 

To  be  Melancholly ; 

And  that  I'm  not  so  weak 

As  I  myself  conceit : 

But  who  in  other  things  have  found 

Me  so  conceited  yet  ? 

Or  who  of  all  my  Friends 
That  have  my  trials  seen, 
Can  tell  the  time  in  seven  years 
When  I  have  dumpish  been  ? 
Some  think  my  voice  is  strong, 
Most  times  when  I  do  Preach  ; 
But  ten  days  after,  what  I  feel 
And  sufier  few  can  reach. 

My  prison'd  thoughts  break  forth. 
When  open'd  is  the  door, 
With  greater  force  and  violence, 
And  strain  my  voice  the  more. 
But  vainly  do  they  tell 
That  I  am  growing  stronger. 
Who  hear  me  speak  in  half  an  hour, 
Till  I  can  speak  no  longer. 


TO    THE    CHRISTIAN    READER.  15 

Some  for  because  they  see  not 

My  cheerfulness  to  fail, 

Nor  that  I  am  disconsolate, 

Do  think  I  nothing  ail. 

If  they  had  borne  my  griefs, 

Their  courage  might  have  fail'd  them, 

And  all  the  Town  (perhaps)  have  known 

(Once  and  again)  what  ail'd  them. 

But  why  should  I  complain 

That  have  so  good  a  God, 

That  doth. mine  heart  with  comfort  till 

Ev'n  whilst  I  feel  his  Rod  ? 

In  God  I  have  been  strong. 

But  wearied  and  worn  out, 

And  joy'd  in  him,  when  twenty  woes 

Assail'd  me  round  about. 

Nor  speak  I  this  to  boast. 

But  make  Apology 

For  mine  own  self,  and  answer  those 

That  fail  in  Charity. 

I  am,  alas  !  as  frail. 

Impatient  a  creature, 

As  most  that  tread  upon  the  ground. 

And  have  as  bad  a  nature. 

Let  God  be  magnified. 
Whose  everlasting  strength 
Upholds  me  under  sufferings 
Of  more  than  ten  years'  length ; 
Through  whose  Almighty  pow'r 
Although  I  am  surrounded 
"With  sorrows  more  than  can  be  told, 
Yet  am  I  not  confounded. 


16  TO    THE    CHRISTIAN    READER. 

For  his  dear  sake  bave  I 

This  service  undertaken, 

For  I  am  bound  to  honor  him 

Who  hath  not  me  forsaken. 

I  am  a  Debtor  too, 

Unto  the  sons  of  Men, 

Whom,  wanting  other  means,  I  would 

Advantage  with  my  Pen. 

I  would,  but  ah !  my  strength, 
When  tried,  proves  so  small, 
That  to  the  ground  without  eiFect 
My  wishes  often  fall. 
Weak  heads,  and  hands,  and  states, 
Great  things  cannot  produce  ; 
And  therefore  I  this  little  Piece 
Have  publish'd  for  thine  use. 

Although  the  thing  be  small. 

Yet  my  good  will  therein. 

Is  nothing  less  than  if  it  had 

A  larger  Volume  been. 

Accept  it  then  in  love, 

And  read  it  for  thy  good  ; 

There's  nothing  in  't  can  do  thee  hurt. 

If  rightly  understood. 

The  God  of  Heaven  grant 

These  Lines  so  well  to  speed. 

That  thou  the  things  of  thine  own  peace 

Through  them  may'st  better  heed  ; 

And  may'st  be  stirred  up 

To  stand  upon  thy  guard, 

That  Death  and  Judgment  may  not  come 

And  find  thee  unprepar'd. 


TOTHE    CHRISTIAN    READER.  1J 

Oh  get  a  part  in  Christ, 

And  make  the  Judge  thy  Friend ; 

So  shalt  thou  be  assured  of 

A  happy,  glorious  end. 

Thus  prays  thy  real  Friend 

And  Servant  for  Christ's  sake. 

Who,  had  he  strength,  would  not  refuse 

JNIore  pains  for  thee  to  take. 

Michael  Wigglesworth. 


ON  THE  FOLLOWING  WORK  AND  ITS  AUTHOR. 


A  VERSE  may  find  liim  wlio  a  sermon  flies, 
Saitli  Herbert  well.     Great  truths  to  dress  in  Meter. 
Becomes  a  Preacher,  who  men's  Souls  doth  prize, 
That  Truth  in  Sugar  roll'd  may  taste  the  sweeter. 
No  cost  too  great,  no  care  too  curious  is 
To  set  forth  Truth  and  win  men's  Spuls  to  bliss. 

In  costly  Verse,  and  most  laborious  Rhymes, 
Are  dish'd  up  here  Truths  worthy  most  regard : 
No  Toys,  nor  Fables  (Poets'  wonted  crimes) 
Here  be,  but  things  of  worth,  with  wit  prepar'd. 
Reader,  fall  to,  and  if  thy  taste  be  good, 
Thou'lt  praise  the  Cook,  and  say,  'Tis  choicest  Food. 

David's  aflfliction  bred  us  many  a  Psalm, 
From  Caves,  from  mouth  of  Graves  that  Singer  sweet 
Oft  tun'd  his  Soul-felt  notes  :  for  not  in  's  calm, 
But  storms,  to  write  most  Psalms  God  made  him  meet. 
Affliction  turn'd  his  Pen  to  Poetry, 
Whose  serious  strains  do  here  before  thee  lie. 

This  man  with  many  griefs  afflicted  sore. 
Shut  up  from  speaking  much  in  sickly  Cave, 
Thence  painful  seizure  hath  to  write  the  more. 


ON    THE    FOLLOWING    "WORK.  19 

And  send  thee  Counsels  from  tlie  mouth  o'  th'  Grave. 
One  foot  i'  th'  other  world  long  time  hath  been, 
Read,  and  thou'lt  say,  His  heart  is  all  therein. 

Oh,  happy  Cave,  that's  to  mount  Nebo  turn'd  ! 

Oh,  happy  prisoner  that's  at  liberty 

To  walk  through  th'  other  "World !  the  Bonds  are  burn'd, 

(But  nothing  else)  in  Furnace  fiery. 

Such  fires  unfetter  Saints,  and  set  more  free 
Their  unscorch'd  Souls  for  Christ's  sweet  company. 

Cheer  on,  sweet  Soul,  although  in  briny  tears 
Steept  is  thy  seed ;  though  dying  every  day ; 
Thy  sheaves  shall  joyful  be  when  Christ  appears. 
To  change  our  death  and  pain  to  life  for  aye. 

The  weepers  now  shall  laugh ;  the  jovial  laughter 
Of  vain  ones  here  shall  turn  to  tears  hereafter. 

Judge  right,  and  his  restraint  is  our  Reproof. 
The  Sins  of  Hearers  Preachers'  Lips  do  close. 
And  make  their  Tongue  to  cleave  unto  its  roof, 
AYhich  else  would  check  and  cheer  full  freely  those 
That  need.     But  from  this  Eater  comes  some  IMeat, 
And  sweetness  good  from  this  affliction  great. 

In  those  vast  "Woods  a  Christian  Poet  sings 
(Where  whilom  Heathen  wild  were  only  found) 
Of  things  to  come,  the  last  and  greatest  things 
Which  in  our  Ears  aloud  should  ever  sound. 
Of  Judgment  dread.  Hell,  Heaven,  Eternity, 
Reader,  think  oft,  and  help  thy  thoughts  thereby. 

J.    MiTCHEL. 


A   PEATER 

TJ  NT  O 

CHRIST  THE  JUDGE  OF  THE  WORLD, 

0  Dearest,  Dread,  most  glor'ious  King  ! 
ni  of  thy  justest  Judgments  sing  : 

Do  thou  my  head  and  heart  inspire, 

To  Sing  aright,  as  I  desire. 

Thee,  thee  alone  IHl  invocate, 

For  I  do  much  abominate 

To  call  the  Muses  to  mine  aid : 

Which  is  tV  TJnchrlstian  use  and  trade 

Of  some  that  Christians  would  he  thought, 

And  yet  they  worship  worse  than  naught. 

Oh  !  what  a  deal  of  Blasphemy, 

And  Heathenish  Impiety, 

In  Christian  Poets  may  he  found. 

Where  Heathen  gods  loith  praise  are  croion\l  ! 

They  make  Jehovah  to  stand  hy 

Till  Juno,  Venus,  3Ierctiry, 

With  frowning  Mars,  and  thund  ''riiig  Jove, 

Ride  Earth  helow,  and  Heaven  above. 

But  I  have  learri^d  to  pray  to  none, 

Save  unto  God  in  Christ  alone. 

Nor  will  I  laud^  no,  not  in  jest, 

That  lohich  I  know  God  doth  detest. 

1  reckon  it  a  damning  evil, 

To  give  God's  Praises  to  the  Devil. 
Thou,  Christ,  art  he  to  whom  I  pray  ; 
Thy  Glory  fain  I  would  display. 
Oh  !  gu,ide  me  hy  thy  sacred  Sprite, 
So  to  indite,  and  so  to  write. 
That  I  thine  holy  Name  may  praise, 
And  teach  the  Sons  of  Men  thy  ways. 


THE 


DAY    OF    DOOM. 


Still  was  the  niglit,  serene  and  bright, 

when  all  Men  sleeping  lay ; 
Calm  was  the  season,  and  carnal  reason 

thought  so  'twould  last  for  aye. 
"  Soul,  take  thine  ease,  let  sorrow  cease ; 

much  good  thou  hast  in  store :" 
This  was  their  Song,  their  Cups  among, 

the  evening  before. 


The  security 
of  the  World 
before  Christ's 
coming  to  judg- 
ment. 
Luke  12 :  19. 


Wallowing  in  all  kind  of  Sin, 

vile  Wretches  lay  secure  ; 
The  best  of  men  had  scarcely  then 

their  Lamps  kept  in  good  ure. 
Virgins  unwise,  who  through  disguise 

amongst  the  best  were  number'd, 
Had  clos'd  their  eyes ;  yea,  and  the  Wise 

through  sloth  and  frailty  slumber'd. 


Mat.  25 :  5. 


22  THE    DAY   OF    DOOM. 


Like  as  of  old,  when  men  grew  bold, 
God's  threat'nings  to  contemn, 

Who  stopt  their  Ear,  and  would  not  hear 
Mat.  24:  37, 38.      when  Mercy  warned  them, 

But  took  their  course,  without  remorse, 
till  God  began  to  pour 

Destructi-on  the  World  upon, 
in  a  tempestuous  show'r; 


1  Thes.  5  :  3.     Who  put  away  the  evil  day, 

and  drown'd  their  cares  and  fears, 
Till  drown'd  were  they,  and  swept  away 

by  vengeance  unawares ; 
So  at  the  last,  whilst  men  sleep  fast 

in  their  security, 
Surpris'd  they  are  in  such  a  snare 

As  cometh  suddenly. 


The    sudden-    For  at  midnight  breaks  forth  a  light, 

ness,  Majesty,        -R-hich  turns  the  night  to  day, 
and  Terror  of       ,     ,  ,.,  ^  .  , 

Christ's  appear^  And  speedily  an  hideous  cry 

i"g-  doth  all  the  World  dismay. 

2  Pet.  3  :  10.     Sinners  awake,  their  hearts  do  ache, 

trembling  their  loins  surpriseth ; 

Amaz'd  with  fear,  by  what  they  hear, 

each  one  of  them  ariseth. 

VI, 

They  rush  from  beds  with  giddy  heads, 

and  to  their  windows  run, 
Viewing  this  light,  which  shines  more  bright 

than  doth  the  noon-day  Sun. 


THEDAYOFDOM.  23 

Straightway  appears  (they  see't  with  tears) 

the  Son  of  God  most  dread, 

Who  with  his  Train  comes  on  amain  Mat.  24 : 

29  30 
to  judge  both  Quick  and  Dead.  '     ' 


Before  his  face  the  Heav'ns  give  place, 

and  Skies  are  rent  asunder, 
With  mighty  voice  and  hideous  noise, 

more  terrible  than  Thunder. 
His  Brightness  damps  Heav'n's  glorious  Lamps 

and  makes  them  hide  their  heads  ; 
As  if  afraid  and  quite  dismay'd,  2  Pet.  3  :  10. 

they  quit  their  wonted  steads. 


Ye  sons  of  men  that  durst  contemn 

the  Threat'nings  of  God's  Word, 
How  cheer  you  now  ?  Your  hearts,  I  trow, 

are  thrill'd  as. with  a  sword. 
Now  Atheist  blind,  whose  brutish  mind 

a  God  could  never  see, 
Dost  thou  perceive,  dost  now  believe 

that  Christ  thy  Judge  shall  be  1 


Stout  Courages,  (whose  hardiness 

could  Death  and  Hell  outface,) 
Are  you  as  bold,  now  you  behold 

your  Judge  draw  near  apace  ? 
They  cry,  "  No,  no,  Alas  !  and  woe  ! 

our  courage  all  is  gone : 
Our  hardiness  (fool  hardiness) 

hath  us  undone,  undone !" 


24  THEDAYOFDOOil. 


Eev.  6 :  15.       No  heart  so  bold,  but  now  grows  cold, 

and  almost  dead  with  fear ; 
No  eye  so  dry  but  now  can  cry, 

and  pour  out  many  a  tear. 
Earth's  Potentates  and  pow'rful  States, 

Captains  and  Men  of  Might, 
Are  quite  abasht,  their  courage  dasht, 

at  this  most  dreadful  sight. 


Mat.  24 :  30.     Mean  men  lament,  great  men  do  rent 

their  Robes,  and  tear  their  hair ; 
They  do  not  spare  their  flesh  to  tear 

through  horrible  despair. 
All  kindreds  wail ;  all  hearts  do  fail ; 

Horror  the  World  doth  fill 
With  weeping  eyes  and  loud  out-cries, 

yet  knows  not  how-to  kill. 

XII. 

Rev.  6 :  15,  IG.  Some  hide  themselves  in  Caves  and  Delves, 

in  places  under  ground  : 
Some  rashly  leap  into  the  Deep, 

to  'scape  by  being  drown'd : 
Some  to  the  Rocks  (0  senseless  block? !) 

and  woody  Mountains  run, 
That  there  they  might  this  fearful  sight, 

and  drefided  Presence  shun. 

XIII. 

In  vain  do  they  to  INIountains  say, 

"Fall  on  "us  and  us  hide 
From  Judge's  ire,  more  hot  than  Fire, 

for  who  may  it  abide  ?" 


THE    DAY    OF    DOOM.  £5 


No  liiding  place  can  from  his  Face 

sinners  at  all  conceal, 
Wlio^e  flaming  Eye  Lid  things  doth  spy, 

and  darkest  things  reveal. 


The  Judge  draws  nigh,  exalted  high  Mat.  25 :  21. 

upon  a  lofty  Throne, 
Amidst  the  throng  of  Angels  strong, 

lo,  Israel's  Holy  One  ! 
The  excellence  of  whose  Presence 

and  awful  IMajestj', 
Amazeth  Nature,  and  every  Creature 

doth  more  than  terrify. 


The  Mountains  smoke,  the  Hills  are  shook,  Eev.  6 :  1-i. 

the  Earth  is  rent  and  torn, 
As  if  she  should  be  clear  dissolv'd 

or  from  her  center  borne. 
The  Sea  doth  roar,  forsakes  the  shore, 

and  shrinks  away  for  fear  ; 
The  wild  beasts  flee  into  the  sea, 

so  soon  as  he  draws  near, 


Whose  Glory  bright,  whose  wond'rous  Might, 

whose  Power  Imperial, 
So  far  surpass  whatever  was 

in  Realms  Terrestrial, 
That  tongues  of  men  (nor  Angel's  pen) 

Cannot  the  same  express ; 
And  therefore  I  must  pass  it  by, 

lest  speaking  should  transgress.  Thes.  4 :  16. 

2 


20  THEDAYOFDOOM. 

XVII. 
rtepun-ection      Before  liis  Throne  a  Trump  is  blown, 
Johu'^S^ts '29       proclaiming  th'  Day  of  Doom  ; 

Forthwith  he  cries,  "  Ye  Dead  arise 

and  tmto  Judgment  come." 
No  sooner  said,  but  'tis  obey'd ; 

Sepulchers  open'd  are ; 
Dead  bodies  all  rise  at  his  call, 
and's  mighty  Power  declare. 

XVIII. 

Both  Sea  and  Land  at  his  command, 

their  Dead  at  once  surrender  ; 
The  Fire  and  Air  constrained  are 

also  their  dead  to  tender. 
The  mighty  Word  of  this  great  Lord 

links  Body  and  Soul  together, 
Both  of  the  Just  and  the  unjust, 

to  part  no  more  for  ever. 


The  living         The  same  translates  from  ]\Iortal  states 
SSl-:36.         to  Immortality, 
1  Cor.  15  :  52.  All  that  survive  and  be  alive, 
in  th'  twinkling  of  an  eye  ; 
That  so  they  may  abide  for  aye, 

to  endless  weal  or  woe  : 
Both  the  Renate  and  Reprobate 
are  made  to  die  no  moe. 


All  brought       His  winged  Hosts  fly  tlirough  all  coasts, 
M  '^"*9T^*^3i'         together  gathering 

Both  good  and  bad,  both  Quick  and  Dead, 
and  all  to  Judirment  bring. 


THEDAYOFDOOII.  £7 


Out  of  their  holes  those  creeping  Moles, 
that  hid  themselves  for  fear, 

By  force  they  take,  and  quickly  make 
before  the  Judge  appear. 


Thus  every  one  before  the  Throne  2  Cor.  5  :  10. 

of  Christ  the  Judge  is  brought,  I^L^L^h^ 

°  =>     '  separated 

Both  righteous  and  impious,  from  the  Goats. 

that  good  or  ill  hath  wrought.  ^^^'-  ^^  '  ^^• 

A  separation  and  difF'ring  station 

by  Christ  appointed  is 
(To  sinners  sad)  'twixt  good  and  bad, 

'twixt  Heirs  of  woe  and  bliss. 


At  Christ's  right  hand  the  Sheep  do  stand, 

his  holy  Mai'tyrs,  who 
For  his  dear  Name  suffering  shame, 

calamity  and  woe, 
Like  Champions  stood  and  with  their  Blood        who  are 

their  Testimony  sealed  ;  Christ's 

Whose  innocence  without  offence  Mat.  5  :  10, 11. 

to  Christ  their  Judge  appealed. 


Next  unto  whom  there  find  a  room 

all  Christ's  afflicted  ones. 
Who  being  chastis'd,  neither  despis'd 

nor  sank  amidst  their  groans ; 
Who  by  the  Rod  were  turn'd  to  God,  Heb.  I2  ; 

and  loved  him  the  more,  ^>  '^* 

Not  murmuring  nor  quarrelling 

when  they  were  chast'ncd  sore. 


28  THEDAYOFDOOM 


Moreover,  suck  as  loved  miich, 

that  had  not  sucli  a  trial, 
As  might  constrain  to  so  great  pain, 
Luke  7  :  41,  47.      and  such  deep  self-denial, 

Yet  ready  were  the  Cross  to  bear, 

■when  Christ  them  call'd  thereto, 
And  did  rejoice  to  hear  his  voice, — 

they're  counted  Sheep  also. 

XXV. 

Christ's  flock  of  Lambs  there  also  stands, 
John  21 :  15.  whose  Faith  was  v.^eak,  yet  true, 

J  h '  3^-  3^^'      "^^^  sound  Believers  (Gospel  receivers) 
whose  Grace  was  small^  but  grew ; 
And  them  among  an  Infant  throng 
of  Babes,  for  whom  Christ  died ; 
Whom  for  his  own,  b}^  ways  unknown 
to  Men,  he  sanctified. 


All  stand  before  their  Savi-or, 
in  long  white  Robes  yclad. 
Rev.  6  :  11.        Their  countenance  full  of  pleasance, 
Phil.  3 :  21,  appearing  wond'rous  glad. 

0  glorious  sight !     Behold  how  bright 

dust-heaps  are  made  to  shine. 
Conformed  so  their  Lord  unto, 
whose  Glory  is  Divine. 


The  Goats         ^^  Christ's  left  hand  the  Goats  do  stand, 
described,  or  all  whining  Hypocrites 

sorts  of  Repro-  ^^o  for  self-ends  did  seem  Christ's  friends 
bates  on  the  but  foster'd  guileful  sprites  ; 


THE    DAY     OF    DOOM. 


29 


"Who  Slieep  resembled,  but  tliey  dissembled, 
(their  hearts  u'ere  not  sincere.) 

Who  once  did  throng  Christ's  Lambs  among, 
but  now  must  not  come  near. 


l?ft  hand. 
Mat.  2i  :  51. 


Apostates  base  and  run-aways, 

such  as  have  Christ  forsaken, 
Of  whom  the  Devil,  with  seven  more  evil, 

hath  fresh  possession  taken ; 
Sinners  ingrain,  reserv'd  to  pain, 

and  torments  most  severe, 
Because  'gainst  light  they  sinn'd  with  spite, 

are  also  placed  there. 


Luke  11  :  24, 

2(1. 

Ileh.  6  :  4,  5,  G. 

Heb.  10  :  29. 


There  also  stand  a  num'rous  band, 

that  no  profession  made 
Of  Godliness,  nor  to  redress 

their  ways  at  all  essay'd  ; 
"Who  better  knew,  but  (sinful  Crew) 

Gospel  and  Law  despised, 
"Who  all  Christ's  knocks  withstood  like  blocks, 

and  would  not  be  advised. 


Luko  12  :  47. 
Prov.  1 :  24,  26. 
Job  3  :  19. 


Moreover,  there  with  them  appear 

a  number,  numberless. 
Of  great  and  small,  vile  wretches  all, 

that  did  God's  Law  transgress  •, 
Idolaters,  false  worshippers, 

Profaners  of  God's  Name, 
Who  not  at  all  thereon  did  call, 

or  took  in  vain  the  same. 


Gal.  3: 10. 
1  Cor.  G  :  9. 
Rev.  21  :  8. 


30  THEDAYOFDOOJI. 

XXXI. 

Exod.  20  :  7,  8.  Blasphemers  lewd,  and  Swearers  shrewd, 
scoffers  at  Purity, 
That  hated  God,  contemn'd  his  Rod, 
and  lov'd  Security ; 
2  Thes.  1  :  6,     Sabbath-polluters,  Saints-persecutors, 
'    "  presumptuous  men  and  proud, 

Who  never  lov'd  those  that  reprov'd  ; 
all  stand  amongst  this  crowd. 

xxxir. 
Adulterers  and  Whoremongers 
ITcb.  13  :  4.  were  there,  with  all  unchast ; 

1  Cor.  6  :  10.     T]^gj.g  Coveiwus  and  Ravenous, 
that  riches  got  too  fast : 
Who  us'd  vile  ways  themselves  to  raise 

t'  Estates  and  worldly  wealth, 
Oppression  by  or  knavery, 
by  force,  or  fraud,  or  stealth. 


Moreover,  there  together  were 

children  flagiti-ous, 
And  Parents  who  did  them  undo 
Zach.  5 :  3,  4.       by  nurture  vici-ous. 
20^  91  '    ' '        False- witness-bearers  and  self-forswearers, 
Murd'rers  and  Men  of  Blood, 
Witches,  Enchanters,  and  Ale-house  haunters, 
beyond  account  there  stood. 

XXXIV. 

Their  place  there  find  all  Heathen  blind 
that  Nature's  light  abus'd, 
Eom.  2  :  13.       Although  they  had  no  tidings  glad 
of  Gospel  grace  refus'd 


THE    DAY    OF    DOOM.  31 

There  stand  all  Nations  and  Generations 
of  Adam's  Progeny,  [not, 

Whom  Christ  redeem'd  not,  whom  he  esteem'd 
through  Infidelity ; 


Who  no  Peace-maker,  no  undertaker, 

to  shroud  them  from  God's  ire. 
Ever  obtain'd ;  they  must  be  pain'd  Acts  4  :  12. 

with  everlasting  fire. 
These  num'rous  bands,  wringing  their  hands, 

and  weeping  all  stand  there, 
Fill6d  with  anguish,  whose  hearts  do  languish, 

through  self-tormenting  fear. 


Fast  by  them  stand  at  Christ's  left  hand, 

the  Lion  fierce  and  fell, 
The  Dragon  bold,  that  Serpent  old, 

that  hurried  Souls  to  Hell.  1  Cor.  6  :  3. 

There  also  stand,  under  command, 

legions  of  Sprites  vmclean, 
And  hellish  Fiends,    that  are  no  friends 

to  God,  nor  unto  Men. 


With  dismal  chains,  and  strongest  reins, 

like  Prisoners  of  Hell,  Jude  6. 

They're  held  in  place  before  Christ's  face, 

till  lie  their  Doom  shall  tell. 
These  void  of  tears,  but  fill'd  with  fears, 

and  dreadful  expectation 
Of  endless  pains  and  scalding  flamei, 

stand  waiting  for  Damnation. 


32 


THE    DAY    OF    DOOM. 


The  Saints 
cleared  and 
.iustified. 


All  silence  keep  both  Goats  and  Sheep 

before  the  Judge's  Throne ; 
With  mild  aspect  to  his  Elect 

then  speaks  the  Holy  One : 
"  My  Sheep  draw  near,  your  Sentence  hear, 

which  is  to  you  no  dread, 
Who  clearly  now  discern  and  know 

your  sins  are  pardoned. 


2  Cor.  5  :  10. 
Eccl.  3  :  17. 
John  3  i  18. 


XXXIX. 

"  'Twas  meet  that  ye  should  judged  be, 

that  so  the  World  may  spy 
No  cause  of  grudge,  when  as  I  judge 

and  deal  impartially. 
Know  therefore  all  both  great  and  small, 

the  ground  and  reason  why 
These  Men  do  stand  at  my  right  hand 

and  look  so  cheerfully. 


Job  17 :  6. 
Eph.  1 :  4. 


"  These  Men  be  those  my  Father  chose 

before  the  World's  foundation. 
And  to  me  gave,  that  I  should  save 

from  Death  and  Condemnation  ; 
For  whose  dear  sake  I  flesh  did  take, 

was  of  a  Woman  born, 
And  did  inure  myself  t'  endure 

unjust  reproach  and  scorn. 


"For  then  it  was  that  I  did  pass 
through  sorrows  many  a  one  ; 

That  I  drank  up  that  bitter  Cup 
which  made  me  sigh  and  groan. 


THE    DAY    OF    DOOH.  33 

The  Cross's  pain  I  did  sustain  ;  Ecv.  1 :  5. 

yea  more,  my  Father's  ire 
I  underwent,  my  Blood  I  spent 

to  save  them  fi"om  Ilell-tire. 


'-  Thus  I  esteemed,  thus  I  redeemed 

all  these  from  every  Nation, 
That  they  may  be  (as  now  you  see)  Eph.  2  : 1,  3. 

a  chosen  Generation. 
What  if  ere  while  they  were  as  vile 

and  bad  as  any  be. 
And  yet  from  all  their  guilt  and  thrall 

at  once  I  set  them  free  ? 


"  My  grace  to  one  is  wrong  to  none  ; 

none  can  Election  claim  ; 

Amongst  all  those  their  souls  that  lose.  Mat.  23  :  13, 

none  can  Rejection  blame.  }^'     .    .„  „^ 

''  Rom.  9  :  20,  21. 

He  that  may  choose,  or  else  refuse, 

all  men  to  save  or  spill, 

i\Iay  this  Man  choose,  and  that  refuse, 

redeemius;  whom  he  will. 


"  But  as  for  those  whom  I  have  chose 

Salvation's  heirs  to  be,  Isa,  53 

I  underwent  their  punishment,  ">  H* 

and  therefore  set  them  free. 
I  bore  their  grief,  and  their  relief 

by  suffering  procur'd, 
That  they  of  bliss  and  happiness 

might  firmly  be  assur'd. 


34 


THE    DAY    OF    DOOM, 


XLV. 


'•'  And  this  my  grace  tliey  did  embrace, 
Jam'  2  '•  18^^'        ^^^ieving  on  my  Name  ; 
Heb."  12  :  1.       Which  Faith  was  true,  the  fruits  do  sliew 
Mat.  19  :  29.  proceeding  from  the  same  ;— 

Their  Penitence,  their  Pati-ence, 

their  Love  and  Self-denial, 
In  suff-'ring  losses  and  bearing  Crosses, 
when  put  upon  the  trial  ;— 

XL  VI. 

"  Their  sin  forsaking,  their  cheerful  taking 

my  Yoke,  their  Charity 
Unto  the  Saints  in  all  their  wants, 

and  in  them  unto  me  j 

Ma?25:  3|-40  ^^T-  ^^^^\  ^^  '^'"''  ^"^  ^^"^^  ^PP^'^^^ 
'     •      their  Paith  to  be  unfeigned, 

And  that  a  part  in  my  desert 

and  purchase  they  have  gained. 

XLVII. 

"  Their  debts  are  paid,  their  peace  is  made, 
their  sins  remitted  are  ; 

W  8  :  li;  ^""  ^^«^^^or«  a*  o^^ce  I  do  pronounce, 
17,  33,  34.  '  and  openly  declare, 

John  3  :  18.        That  Ileav'n  is  theirs,  that  they  be  Heirs 
of  Life  and  of  Salvation ; 
Nor  ever  shall  they  come  at  all 
to  Death  or  to  Damnation. 

XLVIII. 

"  Come  blessed  Ones  and  sit  on  Thrones, 
^  judging  the  World  with  me ; 
Come  and  possess  your  happiness, 
Luke  22 :  29, 30.      and  bought  felicity ; 


THE    DAY    OF    DOOM, 


35 


Henceforth  no  fears,  no  care,  no  tears, 

no  sin  sliall  you  annoy. 
Nor  any  thing  that  grief  doth  bring  : 

Eternal  Rest  enjoy. 


Mat.  19 :  28. 


"  You  bore  the  Cross,  you  suffer'd  loss 

of  all  for  my  Name's  sake  ; 
Receive  the  Crown  that's  now  your  own ; 

come,  and  a  Kingdom  take." 
Thus  spake  the  Judge  :  the  wicked  grudge 

and  grind  their  teeth  in  vain ; 
They  see  with  groans  these  plac'd  on  Thrones, 

which  addeth  to  their  pain  : 


Mat.  25  :  34.' 
They  are 
placed  on 
Thrones  to  join 
with  Christ  in 
judging  the 
■wicked. 


That  those  whom  they  did  wrong  and  slay, 

must  now  their  Judgment  see  ! 
Such  whom  they  slighted  and  once  despited, 

must  now  their  Judges  be  ! 
Thus  'tis  decreed,  such  is  their  meed, 

and  guerdon  glorious ; 
With  Christ  they  sit,  judging  it  fit 

to  plague  the  Impious. 


Cor.  6  :  2. 


The  wicked  are  brought  to  the  Bar. 

like  guilty  Malefactors, 
That  oftentimes  of  bloody  Crimes 

and  Treasons  have  been  Actors. 
Of  wicked  Men,  none  are  so  mean 

as  there  to  be  neglected ; 
Nor  none  so  high  in  dignity 

as  there  to  be  respected. 


The  wicked 
brought    to 
the  Bar. 
Eom.  2  :  3,  6, 
11. 


36 


THE    DAY_Or     DOOM. 


LII. 

The  glorious  Judge  will  privilege 

nor  Emperor  nor  King  • 
But  every  one  that  hath  misdone 
ir-SO  ;  Ik  ''•  ,  ^f^  ^^to  judgment  bring. 

And  every  one  that  hath  misdone, 

the  Judge  impartially 
Condemneth  to  eternal  woe, 

and  endless  misery. 

LIII. 

Thus  one  and  all,  thus  great  and  small, 

the  Rich  as  well  as  Poor, 
And  those  of  place,  as  the  most  base, 

do  stand  the  Judge  before. 
They  are  arraign'd,  and  there  detain'd 

before  Christ's  Judgment  seat, 
With  trembling  fear  their  Doom  to  hear, 

and  feel  his  Anger's  heat. 

LIV. 

There  Christ  demands  at  all  their  hands 

a  strict  and  straight  account 
Of  all  things  done  under  the  Sun, 
EccK^ll  :  9,  vrhose  number  far  surmount 

Man's  wit  and  thought :  they  all  are  brought 

unto  this  solemn  Trial, 
And  each  oifense  with  evidence 
so  that  there's  no  denial. 

LV. 

There's  no  excuse  for  their  abuse, 

since  their  own  Consciences 
More  proof  give  in  of  each  Man's  sin, 

than  thousand  Witnesses. 


THE    DAY    OF    DOOM. 


37 


Thougli  formerly  tliis  faculty 

had  grossly  been  abused, 
(Men  could  it  stifle,  or  with  it  trifle, 

when  as  it  them  accused,) 


Now  it  comes  in,  and  every  sin 

unto  Men's  charge  doth  lay ; 
It  judgeth  them  and  doth  condemn, 

though  all  the  World  say  nay. 
It  so  stingeth  and  tortureth, 

it  worketh  such  distress, 
That  each  Man's  self  against  himself, 

is  forced  to  confess. 


It's  vain,  moreover,  for  Men  to  cover 

the  least  Iniquity ; 
The  Judge  hath  seen,  and  privy  been 

to  all  their  villainy. 
He  unto  light  and  open  sight 

the  work  of  darkness  brings  ; 
He  doth  unfold  both  new  old, 

both  known  and  hidden  things. 


Secret  sins  and 
works  of  dark- 
ness brought  to 
light. 

Ps.  139  :  2,  4, 
12. 
Rom.  2  :  16. 


All  filthy  facts  and  secret  acts, 

however  closely  done, 
And  long  conceal'd,  are  there  reveal'd 

before  the  mid-day  Sun. 
Deeds  of  the  night,  shunning  the  light, 

which  darkest  corners  sought, 
To  fearful  blame,  and  endless  shame, 

are  there  most  justly  brought. 


Eccl.  12  :  14. 


38  THEDAYOFDOOM. 


And  as  all  facts,  and  grosser  acts, 
so  every  word  and  thought, 
Mat  12  •  36       Erroneous  notion  and  lustful  motion, 
Rom.  7  :  7.  are  unto  Judgment  brought. 

No  Sin  so  small  and  trivial, 
but  hither  it  must  come ; 
Nor  so  long  past  but  now  at  last 
it  must  receive  a  doom. 


An  account       At  this  sad  season,  Christ  asks  a  Reason 

demanded  of  aU      r^-^^^  -^  austerity) 

their  actions.  v  J  J  ^ 

John  5 :  40,  and  Of  Grace  refus'd,  of  light  abus'd 

Mat?25  :  19,  27.      ^*^  ^f*'  ^"^  ^'^^^"^^^7  ', 

Of  Talents  lent,  by  them  misspent 

and  on  their  Lust  bestown, 

Which  if  improv'd  as  it  behoov'd 

Heav'n  might  have  been  their  own ; 


Of  times  neglected,  of  means  rejected, 

of  God's  long-suffering 
And  Pati-ence,  to  Penitence 
Rom.  2  :  4,  5.        that  sought  hard  hearts  to  bring  ; 

Why  chords  of  love  did  nothing  move, 

to  shame  or  to  remorse  1 
Why  warnings  grave,  and  counsels,  have 

naught  chang'd  their  sinful  course  ? 

LXII. 

Why  chastenings,  and  evils  things, 
Isa.  1:  5.  why  judgments  so  severe, 

Prevailed  not  with  them  a  jot, 
nor  wrought  an  awful  fear  % 


THEDAYOFDOOM.  39 

Why  promises  of  Holiness  j 

and  new  Obedience,  Jer.  2  :  20. 

They  oft  did  make,  but  always  brake 

the  same,  to  God's  offense '? 


Why  still  Hell-ward,  without  regard, 

they  bold  ventured,  John  3 :  19,  etc. 

And  chose  Damnation  before  Salvation,  Luke  12 -20  21 

when  it  was  offered  ? 
Why  sinful  pleasures  and  earthly  treasures, 

like  fools,  they  prized  more 
Than  Heav'nly  wealth,  Eternal  health, 

and  all  Christ's  Eoyal  store  ? 


Why,  when  he  stood  off'ring  his  Blood 

to  wash  them  from  their  sin,  Luke  13 :  34. 

They  would  embrace  no  saving  Grace,  J^^"^ ''  ^°'  ^""^ 

but  liv'd  and  died  therein  ? 
Such  aggravations,  where  no  evasions, 

nor  false  pretences  hold, 
Exaggerate  and  cumulate 

guilt  more  than  can  be  told. 


They  multiply  and  magnify 

Men's  gross  Iniquities ; 
They  draw  down  wrath  (as  Scripture  saith) 

out  of  God's  treasuries. 
Thus  all  their  ways  Christ  open  lays 

to  Men  and  Angels'  view, 
And  as  they  were  makes  them  appear 

in  their  own  proper  hue. 


40  THE    DAY    OF    DOOM. 

LXVI. 

Thus  lie  dotli  find  of  all  Mankind, 
Eom.  3 :  10, 12.      that  stand  at  his  left  hand, 

No  mother's  son  but  hath  misdone, 

and  broken  God's  command. 
All  have  transgress'd,  even  the  best, 

and  merited  God's  wrath, 
Unto  their  own  perditi-on 

and  everlasting  scath. 


Earth's  dwellers  all,  both  great  and  small, 
Kom.  6 :  23.  have  wrought  iniquity, 

And  suffer  must  (for  it  is  just) 

Eternal  misery. 
Amongst  the  many  there  come  not  any, 

before  the  Judge's  face. 
That  able  are  themselves  to  clear, 

of  all  this  cursed  Race. 


Nevertheless,  they  all  express. 
Hypocrites  (Christ  granting  liberty,) 

seives.^""^  *^^°"  "^^^^  ^°^  ^^^'^  ^*y  *^^y  ^^^®  *^  ^""y^ 

how  they  have  liv'd,  and  why. 
They  all  draw  near  and  seek  to  clear 

themselves  by  making  pleas ; 
There  Hypocrites,  false-hearted  wights, 

do  make  such  pleas  as  these  : 

LXIX. 

"  Lord,  in  thy  Name,  and  by  the  same, 
Mat.  7  :  21,  22,      WO  Devils  dispossess'd ; 

We  rais'd  the  dead  and  minist'red 
Succor  to  the  distress'd. 


THEDATOFDOOM.  4]^ 


Our  painful  teacliiug  and  pow'rful  preaching 

bj  thine  own  wondrous  might, 
Did  throughly  win  to  God  from  sin 

many  a  wretched  wight." 


"  All  this,"  quoth  he,  "  may  granted  be, 

and  3'our  case  little  better'd.  The  Judge 

Who  still  remain  under  a  chain  Jdure^Tn 

and  many  irons  fetter' d.  1  Cor.  9  ;  27 

You  that  the  dead  have  quickened, 

and  rescu'd  from  the  grave. 
Yourselves  were  dead,  yet  ne'er  needed 

a  Christ  your  souls  to  save. 


"  You  that  could  preach,  and  others  teach 

what  way  to  life  doth  lead,  Rom.  2  :  19,  21, 

22  23 
"Why  were  j'ou  slack  to  find  that  track  ' 

and  in  that  way  to  tread  1 
How  could  you  bear  to  see  or  hear 

of  others  freed  at  last 
From  Satan's  paws,  "whilst  in  his  jaws 

yourselves  were  held  more  fast  ? 


"  "Who  though  you  knew  Repentance  true, 

and  Faith  is  my  great  Name,  John  9  :  41. 

The  only  mean  to  quit  you  clean,  ^^'^'  ^  *  ^^'  ^^' 

from  punishment  and  blame, 
Yet  took  no  pain  true  Faith  to  gain, 

such  as  might  not  deceive. 
Nor  would  repent  with  true  intent, 

your  evil  deeds  to  leave. 


42  THE     DAY    OF     DOOM. 

LXXIII. 

"  His  blaster's  will  liow  to  fulfil 
Luke  12  :  47.         the  servant  that  well  knew, 
Mat.  11  :  21,       v  j-  i   e,.         i  i  •      n    ^     ■. 

22  24.  ^^^  ^"^^  undone  his  duty  known, 

more  plagues  to  him  are  due. 
You  against  light  perverted  riglit 

wherefore  it  shall  be  now 
For  Sidon  and  for  Sodom's  Land 

more  easy  than  for  you." 


"  But  we  have  in  thy  presence  been," 
Another  plea  of     say  some,  "  and  eaten  there. 

Luk?i3T20.^''  ^i^  ^<^  "«*  6**  ^^y  Flesh  for  meat, 
and  feed  on  Ileav'nly  Cheer? 

"Whereon  who  feed  shall  never  need, 
as  thou  thyself  dost  say, 

Nor  shall  they  die  eternally, 
but  live  with  Christ  for  aye. 


•     "We  may  allege,  thou  gav'st  a  pledge 

of  thy  dear  Love  to  us, 
In  Wine  and  Bread,  which  figured 

thy  Grace  bestowed  thus. 
Of  strength'ning  Seals,  of  sweetest  Meals, 

have  we  so  oft  partaken ; 
And  shall  we  be  cast  oif  by  thee, 

and  utterly  forsaken  ?" 

LXXVI. 

The  answer.       To  whom  the  Lord,  thus  in  a  word, 

Lnko  13  :  27.         returns  a  short  reply  : 
Mat.  22:12.  y 

"  i  never  knew  any  or  you 


that  wrought  Iniquity. 


T  H  E    D  A  Y    0  F    D  0  0  il .  43 


You  say  you've  been  my  Presence  in  ; 

but  then,  liow  came  j-ou  there 
With  Raiment  vile  that  did  defile 

and  quite  disgrace  my  Cheer  ? 


"  Durst  yoa  draw  near  without  due  fear 

Unto  my  holy  Table  ? 
Durst  you  profane  and  render  vain, 

so  far  as  you  were  able, 
Those  Mysteries,  which  who  o  prize, 

and  carefully  improve, 
Shall  saved  be  undoubtedly, 

and  nothing-  shall  them  move  ? 


"  How  durst  you  venture  bold  guests  to  enter 

in  such  a  sordid  hue, 
Amongst  my  guests  unto  those  Feasts 

that  were  not  made  for  you  7  1  Cor.  11 :  27 

How  durst  you  eat  for  spir'tual  meat  29. 

your  bane,  and  drink  damnation, 
Yf'hilst  by  your  guile  you  render'd  vile 

so  rare  and  great  Salvation  ? 


"  Your  fancies  fed  on  heav'nly  Bread, 

your  hearts  fed  on  some  Lu.->t ; 
You  lov'd  the  Creature  more  than  th'  Creator, 

your  souls  clove  to  the  dust. 

And  think  you  by  Ilypocrisv, 

>  Mat  6-21  24 

and  cloaked  "Wickedness,  Horn.  1  •■  25. 

To  enter  in  laden  with  sin, 

to  lasting  Happiness  ? 


44  THE    DAY    OF    DOOM. 

I.XXX. 

"  This  your  excuse  slicws  your  abuse 
1  Cor.  11  :  27,         of  things  ordaiii'd  for  good, 

And  doth  declare  you  guilty  are 

of  my  dear  Flesh  and  Blood. 
Wherefore  those  Seals  and  precious  Meals 

you  put  so  much  upon 
As  things  Divine,  they  Seal  and  Sign 

you  to  Pcrditi-on." 


Then  forth  issue  another  Crew 
Another  sort        (those  being  silenced), 
make  their        Who  drawing  nigh  to  the  Most  High, 
ple^s,  adventure  thus  to  plead  : 

"  We  sinnei'S  were,"  say  they,  "  'tis  clear, 

deserving  condemnation ; 
But  did  not  we  rely  on  thee, 
0  Christ,  for  whole  Salvation  ? 

LXXXII. 

"  We  did  believe,  and  oft  receive 
Acts  8  :  13.  thy  gracious  Promises ; 

Isa.  58  .  2,  3.     -^'-g  took  creat  care  to  get  a  share 
Heb.  6:4,  5.  /=  ^ 

in  endless  Happiness. 

We  pray'd  and  wept,  and  Fast-dajs  kept, 
lewd  ways  we  did  eschew ; 

We  joyful  were  thy  Word  to  hear  ; 
we  form'd  our  lives  anew. 


"  We  thought  our  sin  had  pardon'd  been, 
2  Pet.  2  :  20.         that  our  Estate  was  good, 

Our  debts  all  paid,  our  peace  well  made, 
our  Souls  wash'd  with  thy  Blood. 


T  n  E    D  A  Y    0  F    D  0  0  M  .  45 


Lord,  why  dost  though  reject  us  now, 
who  have  not  thee  rejected, 

Nor  utterly  true  sanctit}'' 
and  holy  life  neglected  ?" 


The  Judge  incens'd  at  their  pretens'd 

self-vaunting  Piety,  The  Judge 

With  such  a  look  as'trembling  strook  jXil^t^'il'. 

unto  them  made  reply : 
"  0  impudent,  impenitent, 

and  guileful  generation ! 
Think  you  that  I  cannot  descry 

your  hearts'  abomination  ? 


"You  nor  receiv'd,  nor  yet  believ'd 

my  Promises  of  Grace,  John  6  .-  64. 

Nor  were  3'ou  wise  enough  to  prize  ?^^^-  ^P  '  ^^• 

.,,  ,  „  "^  Mat.  lo  :  26. 

my  reconciled  Face ; 

But  did  presume  that  to  assume 

which  was  not  yours  to  take, 
And  challenged  the  Children's  Bread, 

yet  would  not  sin  forsake. 

LXXXVI. 

"  Being  too  bold  you  laid  fast  hold 

where  int'rest  you  had  none.  Rev.  3  :  17. 

Yourselves  deceiving  by  your  believing,  ^^^^'  ^^ '  ^^' 

all  which  you  might  have  known. 
You  ran  away  but  ran  astray 

with  Gospel  Promises, 
And  perished,  being  still  dead 

in  sins  and  trespasses. 


46  T  n  E    D  A  Y    0  F    D  O  0  M  . 


"  How  oft  did  I  Hypocrisy 
and  Hearts'  deceits  unmask 
Mat.  G  :  2,         Before  your  sight,  giving  you  light 
j'er.  8-56  *^  know  a  Christian's  task  ? 

7,  8.  But  you  held  fast  unto  the  last 

your  own  conceits  so  vain, 
No  warning  could  jircvail ;  you  would 
your  own  Deceits  retain. 

LXXXVIII. 

"  As  for  your  care  to  get  a  share 

in  Bliss  j  the  fear  of  Hell, 

And  of  a  part  in  endless  smart, 

Psal.  78  :  34,  did  thereunto  compel. 

35   36   37 
'     '      ■         Your  holiness  and  ways  redress, 

such  as  it  was,  did  spring 

From  no  true  love  to  things  above. 

But  from  some  other  thing. 


Zacb.  7  :  5,  6.    "  You  pray'd  and  wept,  you  Fast-daj^s  kept, 

1  Sam  15':  ^^^^  ^^^  y^  *^^^  **'  ™^  ^ 

13,  21.         ^      No,  but  for  sin  you  sought  to  win 

"    '     '     ■        the  greater  liberty. 

For  all  your  vaunts,  you  had  vile  haunts, 

for  which  your  Consciences 
Did  you  alarm,  whose  voice  to  charm 

you  us'd  these  practices. 


"  Your  Penitence,  your  diligence 
Mat.  6  :  2,  5.         to  Read,  to  Pray,  to  Hear, 
John  5 :  44.        "VVere  but  to  drown  the  clam'rous  sound 
of  Conscience  in  your  Ear. 


T  H  E    D  A  Y     0  F    D  0  0  M .  47 


If  light  you  lov'd,  vain  glory  mov'd 
yourselves  therewith  to  store, 

That  seeming  wise  men  might  you  prize, 
and  honor  you  the  more. 


"  Thus  from  j^ourselves  unto  yourselves, 

your  duties  all  do  tend  ;  Zech.  7  :  5,  IC. 

And  as  self-love  the  wheels  doth  move,  ''^"      '    ' 

so  in  self-love  they  end." 
Thus  Christ  detects  their  vain  projects, 

and  close  Impiety, 
And  plainly  shews  that  all  their  .shows 

were  but  Hypocrisy. 


Then  were  brought  nigh  a  Company 

of  Civil  honest  Men,  Civil  honest 

That  lov'd  true  dealing  and  hated  steaUng,         L^lsTli. 

ne'er  wrong'd  their  Bretheren  ; 
Who  pleaded  thus :  "  Thou  knowest  us 

that  we  were  blameless  livers ; 
No  Whoremongers,  no  Murderers, 

no  quarrelers  nor  strivers. 


"  Idolaters,  Adulterers, 

Church-robbera  we  were  none, 
Nor  false  dealers,  nor  cozeners, 

but  paid  each  man  his  own. 
Our  way  was  fair,  our  dealing  square, 

we  were  no  wasteful  spenders, 
No  lewd  toss-pots,  no  drunken  sots, 

no  scandalous  ofienders. 


48  THEDAYOFDOOM. 


"  We  liated  vice  and  set  great  price, 

by  virtuous  conversation  ; 
1  Sam.  15  :  22.  And  by  the  same  vre  got  a  name 

and  no  small  commendation. 
God's  Laws  express  that  righteousness 

is  that  which  he  doth  prize ; 
And  to  obey,  as  he  doth  say, 

ia  more  than  sacrifice. 


"  Thus  to  obey  hath  been  our  way ; 
Eccl  7  :  20.  let  our  good  deeds,  we  praj^, 

Find  some  regard  and  some  reward 

with  thee,  O  Lord,  this  day. 
And  whereas  we  transgressors  be, 

of  Adam's  race  were  none, 
No,  not  the  best,  but  have  confess'd 

themselves  to  have  misdone." 

xcvi. 
Then  answered  unto  their  dread, 

Are  taken  off         the  Judge :  "  True  Piety 

and  rendered       /-i    i  j   ii     i     •  j     i 

invalid  ^^^  doth  desire  and  eke  require, 

Deut.  10  :  12.         no  less  than  honesty. 

Tit  2-12 

Jam  2 :  10.       Justice  demands  at  all  your  hands 

perfect  Obedience ; 

If  but  in  part  you  have  come  short, 

that  is  a  just  offense. 


"  On  Earth  below,  where  men  did  owe 
a  thousand  pounds  and  more. 

Could  twenty  pence  it  recompense  ? 
Could  that  have  clear'd  the  score  ? 


THEDAYOFDOOM.  49 


U. 


Think  you  to  buy  Felicity 
with  part  of  what's  due  debt  ? 

Or  for  desert  of  one  small  part, 
the  whole  should  off  be  set  1 


"  And  yet  that  part  whose  great  desert 

3'ou  think  to  reach  so  far,  Lake  18 :  llj^ 

For  your  excuse  doth  you  accuse, 

and  will  j^our  boasting  mar. 
However  fair,  however  square 

your  way  and  work  hath  been 
Before  men's  eyes,  yet  God  espies 

iniquity  therein. 


"  God  looks  upon  tli'  affecti-on 

and  temper  of  the  heart ; 
Not  only  on  the  acti-on,  1  Sam.  16  :  7. 

and  the  externarpart. 
"Whatever  end  vain  men  pretend, 

God  knows  the  verity, 
And  by  the  end  which  they  intend 

their  words  and  deeds  doth  try. 


2  Chron.  25 :  2. 


"Without  true  Faith,  the  Scripture  saitli, 

God  cannot  take  delight 

In  any  deed  that  doth  proceed  Heb  .11:6. 

.  ■    e  T      ■    ^l  1  Cor.  13 :  1, 

from  any  smtul  wight.  2  3 

And  without  love  all  actions  prove 

but  barren  empty  things  ; 
Dead  works  they  be  and  vanity, 

the  which  vexation  brings. 


50  TIIEDAYOFDOOM. 


"  Nor  from  true  Faith,  which  qiiencheth  wrath, 

hath  j^our  obedience  flown ; 
Nor  from  true  Love,  which  wont  to  move 

Believers,  hath  it  grown. 
Your  argument  shews  your  intent 

in  all  that  you  have  done ; 
You  thought  to  scale  Heav'n's  lofty  Wall 

by  Ladders  of  your  own. 


"  Your  blinded  spirit  hoping  to  merit 
by  your  own  Righteousness, 

Needed  no  Savior  but  your  behavior, 
Rom.  10  :  3.  and  blameless  carriages. 

You  trusted  to  what  you  could  do, 
and  in  no  need  you  stood  ; 

Your  haughty  pride  laid  me  aside, 
And  trampled  on  my  Blood. 


"  All  men  have  gone  astray,  and  done 
Rom.  9  :  30,  32.      that  which  God's  laws  condemn  ; 
S2lV4?'^^'  ^"*  ^y  Purchase  and  offer'd  Grace 
All  men  did  not  contemn. 
The  Ninevites  and  Sodomites 

had  no  such  sin  as  this  ; 
Yet  as  if  all  your  sins  were  small, 
you  say,  '  All  did  amiss.' 

CIV. 

"  Again  you  thought  and  mainly  sought 
a  name  with  men  t'  acquire ; 

Pride  bare  the  Bell  that  made  you  swell, 
and  j'our  own  selves  admire. 


THE    DAY    OF    DOOM. 


51 


Mean  fruit  it  is,  and  vile,  I  wiss, 
that  springs  from  such  a  root ; 

Virtue  divine  and  genuine 

wonts  not  from  pride  to  shoot. 


Mat.  6  •■  5. 


"  Such  deeds  as  j^our  are  worse  than  poor ; 

they  are  but  sins  gilt  over 
With  silver  dross,  whose  glist'ring  gloss 

can  them  no  longer  cover. 
The  best  of  them  would  you  condemn, 

and  ruin  you  alone, 
Although  you  were  from  faults  so  clear, 

that  other  you  had  none. 


Prov.  26 :  23. 
Mat.  23 :  27. 


"  Your  gold  is  brass,  your  silver  dross, 

your  righteousness  is  sin ; 
And  think  j^ou  by  such  honesty 

Eternal  life  to  win  1 
You  much  mistake,  if  for  its  sake 

you  dream  of  acceptation  ; 
Whereas  the  same  deserveth  shame 

and  meriteth  damnation." 


Prov.  15 :  8. 
Rom.  3  :  20. 


A  wondrous  crowd  then  'gan  aloud 

thus  for  themselves  to  say : 
"  We  did  intend,  Lord,  to  amend, 

and  to  reform  our  way. 
Our  true  intent  was  to  repent 

and  make  our  peace  with  thee ; 
But  sudden  death  stopping  our  breath, 

left  us  no  liberty. 


Those  that 
pretend  want 
of  opportunity 
to  repent. 
Prov.  27  ;  1. 
Jam.  4  :  13. 


52  THE    DAY   OF     DOOM. 

CVIII. 

"  Short  was  our  time,  for  in  its  priine 

our  youthful  pow'r  was  cropt ; 
We  died  in  youth  before  full  growth, 

so  was  our  purpose  stopt. 
Let  our  good  will  to  turn  from  ill, 

and  sin  to  ha^'e  forsaken. 
Accepted  be,  O  Lord,  by  thee, 

and  in  good  part  be  taken." 


To  whom  the  Judge :  "  Where  you  allege 
Are  confuted  the  shortness  of  the  space, 

Ecd°12:T'^'  ^^^*  ^^^^  y^"^  ^^^*^  y^"  ^^^'^  ^"  <^''^^*'^' 
Eev.  2 :  21.  to  compass  saving  Grace, 

It  was  Free  Grace  that  any  space 

was  given  you  at  all. 
To  turn  from  evil,  defy  the  Devil, 

and  upon  God  to  call. 


"  One  day,  one  week  wherein  to  seek 

God's  face  with  all  your  hearts, 

Luke  13 :  24.     A  favor  was  that  far  did  pass 

?T^,°'''o*'  'rr^o  n       the  best  of  your  deserts. 
Heb.  S :  7,  8,  9.  '' 

You  had  a  season ;  what  was  your  reason 

such  precious  hours  to  waste  ? 

What  could  you  find,  what  could  you  mind 

that  was  of  greater  haste  ? 


"  Could  you  find  time  for  vain  pastime, 
for  loose,  licentious  mirth  ? 
Eccl.  11  :  9        For  fruitless  toys  and  fading  joys, 
llT  "20  '         *^^^  perish  in  the  birth  1 


THE    DAY    OF    DOOM.  53 


Had  you  good  leisure  for  carnal  Pleasure, 
in  days  of  health  and  youth  ? 

And  yet  no  space  to  seek  God's  face, 
and  turn  to  him  in  truth  ? 


"  In  younger  years,  beyond  your  fears, 

what  if  you  were  surprized  ?  Amos  6  :  3,  4, 

You  put  away  the  evil  day,  ^  E  h   5  •  16 

and  of  long  life  devised.  Luke  19  :  42 

You  oft  were  told,  and  might  behold, 

that  Death  no  Age  doth  spare  ; 
Why  then  did  you  your  time  foreslow, 

and  slight  your  soul's  welfare  ? 


"  Had  your  intent  been  to  repent, 

and  had  you  it  desir'd. 
There  would  have  been  endeavors  seen  Luke  13  :  21, 

before  jouv  time  expir'd.  p^;? '^9 

God  makes  no  treasure,  nor  hath  he  pleasure 

in  idle  purposes ; 
Such  fair  pretenses  are  foul  oiFenses, 

and  cloaks  for  wickedness." 


Phil.  2 :  12. 


Then  were  brought  in  and  charg'd  with  sin, 

another  Company, 

"Who  by  Petition  obtain' d  permission  Some  plead  ex- 

to  make  Apology.  ^"^f"^  '•^  t^'^"" 

^       °-'  betters. 

They  argued,  "  We  were  misled.  Mat.  18  :  7. 

as  is  well  known  to  thee. 
By  their  example  that  had  more  ample 

abilities  than  we ; 


54  THE    DAY     OF     DOOM. 


"  Such  as  profess'd  they  did  detest 

and  hate  each  wicked  way ; 
"Whose  seeming  grace  whilst  we  did  trace, 

our  Souls  were  led  astray. 
John  7  :  48.       When  men  of  Parts,  Learning,  and  Arts, 

professing  Piety, 
Did  thus  and  thus,  it  seem'd  to  us 

we  might  take  liberty." 

cxvi. 

Who  are  told     The  Judge  replies  :  "  I  gave  you  eves, 

that  examples  a      t  t    i  j_  j^ 

are  no  Rules.  -^nd  light  to  see  your  way, 

Psal.  19  :  8,  11.  Which  had  you  lov'd  and  well  improv'd, 
Exod.23:2.  i     i    \  ^  F  ' 

Psal.  50  :  17  7°^  ^^*^  ^ot  gone  astray. 

1^-  My  Word  was  pure,  the  Rule  was  sure  ; 

Why  did  you  it  forsake, 
Or  thereon  trample,  and  men's  example 
your  Directory  make  ? 

CXVII. 

"  This  you  well  knew  :  that  God  is  true, 

and  that  most  men  are  liars, 
2  Thn.  3  :  5.      In  word  professing  holiness, 

in  deed  thereof  deniers. 
0  simple  fools  !  that  having  Rules, 

your  lives  to  regulate, 
Would  them  refuse,  and  rather  choose 

vile  men  to  imitate." 


They  urge  that  "  But,  Lord,"  say  they,  "  we  went  astray, 

they    were    led        ^^   i: j  wickedly, 

by  godly  men  s  •' ' 

Examples.  But  By  means  of  those  whom  thou  hast  chose 

all  their  shifts      Salvation's  heirs  to  be." 


THE    DAY    OF    DOOM. 


55 


To  whom  the  Judge :  "  "What  you  allege 

doth  nothing  help  the  case, 
But  makes  appear  how  vile  you  were, 

and  rend'reth  you  more  base. 


tarn     to    their 
greater  shame. 


"  You  understood  that  what  was  good, 

was  to  be  followed, 
And  that  you  ought  that  which  was  naught 

to  have  relinquished. 
Contrariwise  it  was  your  guise 

only  to  imitate 
Good  men's  defects,  and  their  neglects 

who  were  regenerate. 


1  Cor.  11 : 1. 
Phil.  4 :  8. 


"But  to  express  their  holiness, 

or  imitate  their  grace, 
You  little  car'd,  nor  once  prepar'd 

your  hearts  to  seek  my  Face. 
They  did  repent  and  truly  rent 

their  hearts  for  all  known  sin  ; 
You  did  offend,  but  not  amend, 

to  follow  them  therein." 


Psal.  32  :  5. 
2  Chron.  32  :  2G. 
Mat.  26  :  75. 
Prov.  1  :  24,  25. 


"  We  had  thy  "Word,"  say  some,  "  O  Lord, 

but  wiser  men  than  we 
Could  never  yet  interpret  it, 

but  always  disagree. 
How  could  we  fools  be  led  by  Rules 

so  far  beyond  our  ken, 
Which  to  explain  did  so  much  pain 

and  puzzle  wisest  men  ?" 


Some  plead  the 
Scriptures' 
darkness,  and 
ditterence 
among  Inter- 
preters. 
2  Pet.  3  :  16. 


5g  '  THE    DAY    OF    DOOM. 


They  are  con-    "  TTas  all  mj  "Word  abstruse  and  hard  ?" 

S'*'®*^*  -, ,    r.  the  Jud^e  then  answered ; 

Prov.  14  :  D.  ° 

Isa.  35  :  8.         "  It  did  contain  much  Truth  so  plain 
Hos.  8  : 1-.  yQ^  might  have  run  and  read. 

But  what  was  hard  you  never  car'd 

to  know,  or  studied  ; 
And  things  that  were  most  plain  and  clear 
you  never  practised. 


"  The  Ttlystery  of  Piety 
Mat.  11 :  25.  God  unto  Babes  reveals, 

Prov.  2 :  3,  4,  5.  -^jien  to  the  Wise  he  it  denies, 
and  from  the  world  conceals. 
If  to  fuliil  God's  holy  Will 
had  seeined  good  to  you. 
You  would  have  sought  light  as  you  ought, 
and  done  the  good  j-ou  knew." 


Then  came  in  view  another  crew, 

and  'gan  to  make  their  pleas  ; 
Amongst  the  rest,  some  of  the  best 
Others  the  fear      had  such  poor  shifts  as  these ; 
AcSTS"""   "  ^^^^  know'st  right  well,  who  all  canst  tell, 
we  liv'd  amongst  thy  foes, 
Who  the  Renate  did  sorely  hate 
and  goodness  much  oppose. 


"  We  holiness  durst  not  profess, 
John  12 :  42,  43.      fearing  to  be  forlorn 

Of  all  our  friends,  and  for  amends 
to  be  the  wicked's  scorn. 


THE    DAY    OF    DOOM. 


57 


We  knew  tlieir  anger  •vroiild  much  endanger 

our  lives  and  our  estates ; 
Therefore,  for  fear,  we  durst  appear 

no  better  than  our  mates." 


To  whom  the  Lord  returns  this  word : 

"  0  wonderful  deceits ! 
To  cast  off  awe  of  God's  strict  law, 

and  fear  men's  wrath  and  threats ; 
To  fear  hell-Mre  and  God's  fierce  ire 

less  than  the  rage  of  men ; 
As  if  God's  wrath  could  do  less  scath 

than  wrath  of  bretheren  ! 


They  are  an- 
swered. 
Luke  12:  4,  5. 
Isa.  51  :  12,  13. 


"  To  use  such  strife,  a  temp'ral  life 

to  rescue  and  secure, 
And  be  so  blind  as  not  to  mind 

that  life  that  will  endure  ! 
This  was  your  case,  who  carnal  peace 

more  than  true  joys  did  savor  ; 
Who  fed  on  dust,  clave  to  your  lust, 

and  spurned  at  my  favor. 


"  To  please  your  kin,  men's  love  to  win, 

to  flow  in  worldly  wealth, 
To  save  your  skin,  these  things  have  been 

more  than  Eternal  health. 
You  had  your  choice,  wherein  rejoice ; 

it  was  your  porti-on, 
For  which  you  chose  your  souls  t'  expose 

unto  Perditi-on. 

3* 


Luke  9  :  23, 
24,  25, 
and  16  :  2. 


58  THE    DAY    OF    DOOM. 

CXXIX. 

"  Who  did  not  hate  friends,  life,  and  state, 
Luke  9  :  2(5.  with  all  things  else  for  me, 

I  h^'  H-1^  20  '^^^  ^^^  forsake  and's  Cross  up-take 
shall  never  happy  be. 
"Well  worthy  they  to  die  for  aye, 

who  death  than  life  had  rather  ; 
Death  is  their  due  that  so  value 
the  friendship  of  my  Father." 


Others  plead      Others  argue,  and  not  a  few, 
for  pardon  both      a  jg  jjot  God  graci-ous  ? 
from  God  s  ° 

Mercy  and         Ilis  Equity  and  Clemency, 

p"®^*i?g  .  38  ^^'®  ^^^y  "^^  marvellous  1 

2  Kin.  11 :  26.  Thus  we  believ'd  ;  are  we  deceiv'd  1 

Cannot  his  Mercy  great, 
(As  hath  been  told  to  us  of  old,) 

assuage  his  anger's  heat  ? 

CXXXI. 

"  How  can  it  be  that  God  should  see 

his  Creatures'  endless  pain, 
Or  hear  their  groans  and  rueful  moans, 

and  still  his  wrath  retain  ? 
Can  it  agree  with  Equity, 

can  Mercy  have  the  heart. 
To  recompense  few  years'  offense 

with  everlasting  smart  ? 

CXXXII. 

"  Can  God  delight  in  such  a  sight 
as  sinners'  misery  ? 
Psal.  30  :  9.        Or  what  great  good  can  this  our  blood 

Mic.  7  :  18.  ^j.;j       yy^^j  ^j^g  j^^^^g^  jjj    .    ^ 


THEDAYOFDOOM.  59 


0  thou  that  dost  thy  Glory  most 

in  pard'ning  sin  display, 
Lord,  might  it  please  thee  to  release 

and  pardon  us  this  day  ! 


"  Unto  thy  name  more  glorious  fame 

would  not  such  Mercy  bring  ? 
"Would  not  it  raise  thine  endless  praise, 

more  than  our  suffering  ?" 
"With  that  they  cease,  holding  their  peace, 

but  cease  not  still  to  weep  ; 
Grief  ministers  a  flood  of  tears, 

in  which  their  woi'ds  do  steep. 


But  all  too  late ;  grief's  out  of  date, 

when  Life  is  at  an  end.  They  are 

The  glorious  King  thus  answering, 

all  to  his  voice  attend : 
"  God  gracious  is,"  quoth  he ;  "  like  his, 

no  mercy  can  be  found : 
His  Equity  and  Clemency 

to  sinners  do  abound, 


"  As  may  appear  by  those  that  here  Mercv  now 

are  plac'd  at  my  right  hand,  ^JltsSfof" 

Whose  stripes  I  bore,  and  clear'd  the  score,         Mercj\ 

that  they  might  quitted  stand.  g^^  9  .  23 

For  surely  none  but  God  alone, 

whose  Grace  transcends  men's  thought, 
For  such  as  those  that  were  his  foes 

like  wonders  would  have  wrought. 


go  T  H  E    D  A  Y    0  F    D  0  0  M  . 


Did  also  wait     "  And  nono  but  lie  such,  lenity 
abused"i?  ^'         ^^^  patience  would  have  shown 
Rom.  2:4.         To  you  so  long,  who  did  him  wrong, 
and  puU'd  his  Judgment  down. 
How  long  a  space,  0  stiff-neck'd  race, 

did  patience  you  aflford  ? 
How  oft  did  love  you  gently  move, 
to  turn  unto  the  Lord  1 


Hos.  11 :  4. 


"  With  chords  of  love  God  often  strove 
Luke  13  :  34.         your  stubborn  hearts  to  tame ;     . 
GraceYow  past  Nevertheless  your  wickedness 
did  still  resist  the  same. 
If  now  at  last  Mercy  be  past 

from  you  for  evermore. 
And  Justice  come  in  Mercy's  room, 
yet  grudge  you  not  therefore. 

CXXXVIII, 

"  If  into  wrath  God  turned  hath 
his  long,  long-suffering, 
Luke  19  :  42,     _^n(i  ^qw  for  love  you  vengeance  prove, 
Jude  4.  i*  is  ^^  equal  thing. 

Your  waxing  worse  hath  stopt  the  course 

of  wonted  Clemency, 
Mercy  refus'd  and  Grace  misus'd 
call  for  severity. 

cxxxix. 
"  It's  now  high  time  that  ev'ry  Crime 
Rom.  2  :  5,  6.         be  brought  to  punishment ; 
Anios  2  :  13.      Wrath  long  contain'd  and  oft  restrain'd, 
Gen.  18  :  25.         at  last  must  have  a  vent. 


THEDAYOFDOOM.  61 


Justice  severe  cannot  forbear 

to  plague  sin  any  longer, 
But  must  inflict  with  hand  most  strict 

mischief  upon  the  wronger. 


"  In  vain  do  they  for  IMercy  pray,  Mat.  25  :  3,  1, 

the  season  being  past,  p^,^^  j2  :  8  29 

Who  had  no  care  to  get  a  share  30. 

therein,  while  time  did  last. 
The  man  whose  ear  refus'd  to  hear 

the  voice  of  Wisdom's  cry, 
Earn'd  this  reward,  that  none  regard 

him  in  his  misery. 


"  It  doth  agree  with  Equity  Isa.  5  .- 18,  19. 

and  with  God's  holy  Law,  ^en.  2  :  17. 

That  those  should  die  eternally 

that  Death  upon  them  draw. 
The  soul  that  sins  Damnation  wins, 

for  so  the  Law  ordains  ; 
Which  Law  is  just ;  and  therefore  must 

such  suffer  endless  pains. 


"  Eternal  smart  is  the  desert 

ev'n  of  the  least  ofiense  ; 
Then  wonder  not  if  I  allot  Rom.  6  :  23. 

to  you  this  Recompense  ;  ^  '^^^®- 1  =  8,  9. 

But  wonder  more  that  since  so  sore 

and  lasting  plagues  are  due 
To  every  sin,  you  liv'd  therein, 

who  well  the  danger  knew. 


62  THEDAYOFDOOM. 


Ezek.  33  :  11.     "  God  liatli  no  joy  to  crush  or  'stroy, 
andU  :  17 ''  ^^^  ^^^''^  wretclied  -wiglits  ; 

But  to  display  the  glorious  Ray 

of  Justice  he  deliglits. 
To  manifest  he  doth  detest, 
and  throughly  hate  all  sin, 
Rom.  9  :  22.       By  plaguing  it  as  is  most  fit — 
this  shall  him  Glory  win." 

CXLIV. 

Some  pretend     Then  at  the  Bar  arraigned  are 

they  were  stmt      ^n  impudenter  sort, 

out  of  Heaven  .,       ,      , 

l>y  God's  Who  to  evade  the  guilt  that's  laid 

Decree.  Upon  them,  thus  retort; 

Rom.  9  :  18, 19.       ^  ' 

"  How  could  we  cease  thus  to  transgress  7 

How  could  we  Hell  avoid, 

Whom  God's  Decree  shut  out  from  tliee, 

and  sign'd  to  be  destrov'd  ? 


"  Whom  God  ordains  to  endless  pains 
by^aw  unalterable, 
Heb.  22  :  17.      Repentance  true,  Obedience  new, 
Rom.  11 :  7,  8.       ^^  ^^^^  g^^j^  ^^^  unable. 

Sorrow  for  sin  no  good  can  win, 

to  such  as  are  rejected ; 
Nor  can  they  grieve  nor  yet  believe, 

that  never  were  elected. 

CXLVI. 

"  Of  Man's  fall'n  race,  who  can  true  Grace 

or  Holiness  obtain  ? 
Who  can  convert  or  change  his  heart,  ' 

if  God  withhold  the  same  ? 


'HEDAYOFDOOM.  63 


Had. we  applied  ourselves  and  tried 
as  much  as  who  did  mo^t, 

God's  love  to  gain,  our  busy  pain 
and  labor  had  been  lost." 


Christ  readily  makes  this  Reply :  Their  pleas 

,,  T   1  t.  1.  taken  off. 

"  1  damn  you  not  because  Luke  13  •  27 

You  are  rejected,  nor  yet  elected ;  2  Pet.  1  :  9,  10, 

■L    ,  1  11  T  compared  wiih 

but  3-ou  have  broke  my  Laws.  jj^j.'  ^9  .  jg 

It  is  in  vain  your  wits  to  strain 

the  end  and  means  to  sever ;  . 
Men  fondly  seek  to  part  or  break 

what  God  hath  link'd  together. 


"  Whom  God  will  sav6,  such  he  will  have  Acts  3  :  19, 

the  means  of  life  to  use ;  Tsi^m  '2^-^15 

Whom  he'll  pass  by  shall  choose  to  die,  John  3  :  19. 

and  ways  of  life  refuse.  2*Thes'  2  •  11 

He  that  fore-sees  and  fore-decrees,  12. 

in  wisdom  order'd  has, 
That  man's  free-will,  electing  ill, 

shall  bring  his  Will  to  pass. 


"  High  God's  Decree,  as  it  is  free,  Ezek.  33  :  11, 

so  doth  it  none  compel  l^;    ,„    „, 

^  Luke  13 :  34. 

Against  their  will  to  good  or  ill ;  Prov.  8  :  33, 

it  forceth  none  to  Hell.  "^• 

They  have  their  wish  whose  Souls  perish 

with  Torments  in  Hell-fire, 
Who  rather  choose  their  souls  to  lose, 

than  leave  a  loose  desire. 


64  THEDAYOFDOOM 

CL. 

Gen.  2  :  17.        "  God  did  ordain  sinners  to  pain, 
Mat.  25 :  41,  4.  1      4.     ij   ^^  1 

42  yet  he  to  lieu  sends  none 

Ezek.  18  :  20.    But  such  as  swerv'd  and  have  deserv'd 
destruction  as  their  own. 
His  pleasure  is,  that  none  from  Bliss 

and  endless  happiness 
Be  barr'd,  but  such  as  wrong'd  him  much, 
by  willful  wickedness. 

CLI. 

"  You,  sinful  Crew !  no  other  knew 

2  Pet.  1 :  10.  but  you  mia;ht  be  elect ; 

Acts  13 :  46.       ,-^,       ;'.  ,  ° ,  '  ,  ^ 

Luke  13:  21.     VVhy  did  you  then  yourselves  condemn? 

Why  did  you  me  reject  1 
VVhere  was  your  strife  to  gain  that  life 

which  lasteth  evermore  ? 
You  never  knock'd,  yet  say  God  lock'd 

against  you  Heaven's  door. 

CLII. 

Mat.  7  :  7,  8      '"Twas  no  vain  .task  to  knock  and  ask, 
whilst  life  continued. 
Who  ever  sought  Heav'n  as  he  ought, 

and  seeking  perished  ? 
The  lowly,  meek,  who  truly  seek 
for  Christ  and  for  Salvation, 
Gal.  5  :  22,  23;;  There's  no  decree  whereby  such  ba 
ordain'd  to  condemnation. 


"  You  argue  then :  '  But  abject  men, 
whom  God  resolves  to  spill, 

Cannot  repent,  nor  their  hearts  rent ; 
nor  can  they  change  their  will.' 


THEDAYOFDOOM.  C5 

Not  for  ]iis  Can  is  any  man 

adjudged  unto  Hell, 
But  for  his  Will  to  do  what's  ill,  John  3  :  19. 

and  nil  lino;  to  do  well. 


"  I  often  stood  tend'ring  my  Blood 

to  wash  away  your  guilt, 
And  eke  my  Sprite  to  frame  you  right, 

lest  your  Souls  should  be  spilt. 
But  you,  vile  Race,  rejected  Grace,  John  5  :  40. 

when  Grace  was  freely  proffer'd, 
No  changed  heart,  no  heav'uly  part 

would  you,  when  it  was  offer'd. 


"  Who  willfully  the  remedy, 

and  means  of  life  contemned. 
Cause  have  the  same  themselves  to  blame,  John  15  :  22, 

if  now  they  be  condemned.  ?£•     ^   „ 

You  have  yourselves,  you  and  none  else,  Isa.  66  :  34. 

to  blame  that  you  must  die  ; 
You  chose  the  wa}^  to  your  decay, 

and  perish'd  willfully." 


These  words  appall  and  daunt  them  all, 

dismay'd  and  all  amort. 
Like  stocks  that  stand  at  Christ's  left  hand 

and  dare  no  more  retort. 
Then  were  brought  near  with  trembling  fear, 

a  number  numberless, 
Of  Blind  Heathen  and  brutish  men, 

that  did  God's  Law  transgress  ; 


66 


THE    DAY    OF    DOOJr. 


Heathen  men 
plead  want  of 
the  Written 
Word. 


"Whose  wicked  ways  Christ  open  laj^s, 

and  makes  their  sins  appear, 
Thej  making  pleas  their  case  to  ease, 

if  not  themselves  to  clear. 
"Thy  Written  Word,"  say  they,  -good  Lord, 

we  never  did  enjoy; 
We  ne'er  refus'd,  nor  it  abus'd ; 

Oh,  do  not  us  destroy  !" 


Mat.  11 :  22. 
Luke  12  :  48. 


"  You  ne'er  abus'd,  nor  yet  refus'd 

my  Written  Word,  you  plead; 
That's  true,"  quoth  he,  "  therefore  shall  3'e 

the  less  be  punished. 
You  shall  not  smart  for  any  part 

of  other  men's  offense. 
But  for  your  own  transgressi-on 

receive  due  recompense." 


1  Cor.  1  :  21, 
Insufficiency 
of  the  li^ht 
of  Nature. 


"  But  we  were  blind,"  say  they,  '•  in  mind  ; 

too  dim  was  Nature's  Light, 
Our  only  guide,  as  hath  been  tried, 

to  bring  us  to  the  sight 
Of  our  estate  degenerate, 

and  curs'd  by  Adam's  Fa'.l ; 
How  we  were  born  and  lay  forlorn 

in  bonda2;e  and  in  thrall. 


"We  did  not  know  a  Christ  till  now, 
nor  how  fall'n  men  be  saved. 

Else  would  we  not,  right  well  we  wot, 
have  so  ourselves  behaved. 


THE    DAY    OF    DOOM. 


G7 


We  should  liave  mourn'd,  we  should  have  tiirn'd 

from  sin  at  thy  Reproof, 
And  been  more  wise  through  thy  advice, 

for  our  own  soul's  behoof.  Mat.  11  :  22. 


"  But  Nature's  light  shin'd  not  so  bright, 

to  teach  us  the  right  way : 
"We  might  have  lov'd  it  and  well  improv'd  it, 

and  yet  have  gone  astray." 
The  Judge  most  High  makes  this  Tleplv :  They  are 

"You  ignorance  pretend,  "'  answered. 

Dimness  of  sight,  and  want  of  light, 

your  course  Ileav'nward  to  bend. 


"  How  came  your  mind  to  be  so  blind  1 

I  once  you  knowledge  gave, 
Clearness  of  sight  and  judgment  right : 

who  did  the  same  deprave  1 
If  to  your  cost  you  have  it  lost, 

and  quite  defac'd  the  same, 
Your  own  desert  hath  caus'd  the  smart  ; 

you  ought  not  me  to  blame. 


Gen. 
Eccl.  7  ; 
Hos.  13 


1  :27. 

7:29. 

9. 


"  Yourselves  into  a  pit  of  woe, 

your  own  transgression  led  ; 
If  I  to  none  my  Grace  had  shown, 

who  had  been  injured  ? 
If  to  a  few,  and  not  to  you, 

I  shew'd  a  way  of  life. 
My  Grace  so  free,  you  clearly  see, 

gives  you  no  ground  of  strife. 


Mat.  11  :  25, 
compared  with 
20  :  15. 


68  THEDAYOFDOOM. 

CLXIV. 

"  'Tis  vain  to  tell,  you  wot  full  well, 

if  you  in  time  liad  known 
Your  misery  and  remedy, 
your  actions  liad  it  shown  : 
Rom.  1 :  20,      You,  sinful  Crew,  have  not  been  true 

21    22 

'  unto  the  Light  of  Nature, 

Nor  done  the  good  you  understood, 
nor  owned  your  Creator. 


"  He  that  the  Light,  because  'tis  slight, 
hath  used  to  despise, 
Rom.  2  :  12, 15,  Would  not  the  Light  shining  more  bright. 

If  you  liad  lov'd,  and  well  improv'd 
your  knowledge  and  dim  sight. 

Herein  your  pain  had  not  been  vain, 
your  plagues  had  been  more  light." 


Reprobate  la-  Then  to  the  Bar  all  they  drew  near 
fonts  plead  for       -vyiio  died  in  infancy, 
themselves.  i        i    j 

Rev.  20  :  12,  -And  never  had  or  good  or  bad 

1^'         ,     .  ,        effected  pers'nally ; 

compared  witli  ^       .  , 

Rom.  6 :  12, 14,  But  from  the  womb  unto  the  tomb 

5?*^,^  ■-.^''^'i'^"       were  straightway  carried, 
Ezek.  18  :  2.  °  "^    ,  ' 

(Or  at  the  least  ere  they  transgress'd) 

who  thus  began  to  plead  : 

cLxvir. 
"  If  for  our  own  transgressi-on, 

or  disobedience, 
We  here  did  stand  at  thy  left  hand, 

just  were  the  Recompense ; 


THE    DAY    OF    BOOM. 

But  Adam's  guilt  our  souls  liath  spilt, 

his  fault  is  charg'd  upon  us ; 
And  that  alone  hath  overthrown 

and  utterly  undone  us. 


"  Not  we,  but  he  ate  of  the  Tree, 

whose  fruit  was  interdicted ; 
Yet  on  us  all  of  his  sad  Fall 

the  punishment's  inflicted. 
How  could  we  sin  that  had  not  been, 

or  how  is  his  sin  our. 
Without  consent,  which  to  prevent 

we  never  had  the  pow'r  1 


"  0  great  Creator  why  was  our  Nature 

depraved  and  forlorn  ? 
Why  so  detil'd,  and  made  so  vil'd, 

whilst  we  were  yet  unborn  ? 
If  it  be  just,  and  needs  we  must 

transgressors  reckon'd  be. 
Thy  Mercy,  Lord,  to  us  afford,  Psal.  51  :  5. 

which  sinners  hath  set  free. 


"  Behold  we  see  Adam  set  free, 

and  sav'd  from  his  trespass, 
Whose  sinful  Fall  hath  split  us  all, 

and  brought  us  to  this  pass. 
Canst  thou  deny  us  once  to  try, 

or  Grace  to  us  to  tender, 
When  he  finds  grace  before  thy  face^ 

who  was  the  chief  offender  V 


69 


70  THE    DAY   OF     DOOM. 


Then  answered  the  Judge  most  dread 

Their  argu-  "  God  dotli  such,  doom  forbid, 

meiits  taken  off.  rrn     .  t       i*i   -,■       .  ^^ 

Ezek.  18  :  20      J- hat  men  should  die  eternally 

Rom.  5  :  12,  19.      for  what  they  never  did. 

But  what  you  call  old  Adam's  Fall, 

and  only  his  Trespass, 
You  call  amiss  to  call  it  his, 

both  his  and  yours  it  was. 


"  lie  was  design'd  of  all  Mankind 

to  be  a  public  Head  ; 

1  Cor.  15  A  common  Root,  whence  all  should  shoot, 

48   49 
'     '  and  stood  in  all  their  stead. 

He  stood  and  fell,  did  ill  or  well, 

not  for  himself  alone. 
But  for  you  all,  who  now  his  Fall 

and  trespass  would  disown. 

CLXXIII. 

"If  he  had  stood,  then  all  his  brood 

had  been  established 
In  God's  true  love  never  to  move, 

nor  once  awry  to  tread ; 
Then  all  his  Eace  my  Father's  Grace 

should  have  enjoy'd  for  ever. 
And  wicked  Sprites  by  subtile  sleights 

could  them  have  harmed  never. 


"Would  3'ou  have  griev'd  to  have  receiv'd 
through  Adam  so  much  good, 

As  had  been  your  for  evermore, 
if  he  at  first  had  stood  ? 


THEDAYOFDOOM.  71 


Gen.  5  :  3. 


Would  you  liave  said,  '  We  ne'er  obey'd 

nor  did  thy  laws  regard  ; 
It  ill  befits  with  benefits, 

us,  Lord,  to  so  reward  ?' 


"  Since  then  to  share  in  his  welfare, 

you  could  have  been  content. 
You  may  with  reason  share  in  his  treason, 

and  in  the  punishment.  Rom.  5  :  12. 

Hence  you  were  born  in  state  forlorn,  ron'l"^  '^^' 

with  Natures  so  depraved  ; 
Death  was  your  due  because  that  you 

had  thus  yourselves  behaved. 


"  You  think  '  If  we  had  been  as  he, 

whom  God  did  so  betrust, 
We  to  our  cost  would  ne'er  have  lost 

all  for  a  paltry  lust.' 
Had  3^ou  been  made  in  Adam's  stead,  Mat.  23 :  30, 31. 

you  would  like  things  have  wrought. 
And  so  into  the  self-same  woe, 

yourselves  and  yours  have  brought. 


"  I  may  deny  you  once  to  try, 

or  Grace  to  you  to  tender, 
Though  he  finds  Grace  before  my  face  Rom.  9  :  15, 18. 

who  was  the  chief  offender  ;  R^m^T:  ft' 

Else  should  my  Grace  cease  to  be  Grace, 

for  it  would  not  be  free. 
If  to  release  whom  I  should  please 

I  have  no  liberty. 


72  THK    DAY    OF    DOOM. 


"  If  upon  one  what's  due  to  none 

I  frankly  sliall  bestow, 
And  on  tlie  rest  shall  not  think  bc.it 

compassion's  skirt  to  throw, 
Whom  injure  T  ?  will  you  envy 

and  grudge  at  others'  weal  ? 
Or  me  accuse,  who  do  refuse 

yourselves  to  help  and  heal  ? 

CLXXIX. 

"  Am  I  alone  of  what's  my  own,. 

no  Master  or  no  Lord  ? 
Mat.  20 :  15.      And  if  I  am,  how  can  you  claim 

what  I  to  some  afford  ? 
Will  you  demand  Grace  at  my  hand, 

and  challenge  what  is  mine  ? 
Will  you  teach  me  whom  to  set  free, 

and  thus  my  Grace  confine  ? 


Psal.  58  :  8.  "  You  sinners  are,  and  such  a  share 

"r"l"v  10^"  ^^  sinners,  may  expect ; 

Kom.  8 :  29,  Such  you  shall  have,  for  I  do  save 

30,  and  11  ^V.        ^^^^  -^^^  j^^jj^g  ^^j^  Elect. 

Rev.  21  :  2/. 

Luke  12  :  14,8.  Yet  to  compare  your  sin  with  their 

Mat.  11 :  22.  ^1^^  j^^ijj  ^  longer  time, 

I  do  confess  yours  is  much  less, 
though  every  sin's  a  crime. 

CLXXXI. 

The  wicked  all  "  A  crime  it  is,  therefore  in  bliss 

convinced  and  ^^  j^ay  not  hope  to  dwell : 

put  to  silence.  -'              *' 

Rom.  3  :  19.  But  unto  3^ou  I  shall  allow 

Mat.  22  :  12.  ^-^Q  easiest  room  in  Hell." 


THEDAYOFDOOM  73 


The  glorious  King  thus  answering, 
they  cease,  and  plead  no  longer  ; 

Their  Consciences  must  needs  confess 
his  Reasons  are  the  stronorer. 


Thus  all  men's  pleas  the  Judge  with  ease  Behold  the 

doth  answer  and  confute,  estatSall  the 

Until  that  all,  both  great  and  small,  ungodly  as  thej-- 

.,        ,  ^       J         ,  stand  hopeless 

are  silenced  and  mute.  .^^^  helpless 

Vain  hopes  are  cropt,  all  mouths  are  stopt,  before  an  im- 

1  ,  ,   ,  partial  Judge, 

Sinners  have  naught  to  sa}^,  expecting  their 

But  that  'tis  just  and  equal  most  final  Sentence, 
they  should  be  damn'd  for  aye.  •     •      >      • 


Now  what  remains,  but  that  to  pains 

and  everlasting  smart, 
Christ  should  condemn  the.  sons  of  men, 

which  is  their  just  desert? 
Oh  rueful  plights  of  sinful  wights  ! 

Oh  wretches  all  forlorn  ! 
'T  had  happy  been  they  ne'er  had  seen 

the  sun,  or  not  been  born. 


Yea  now  it  would  be  good  they  could 

themselves  annihilate. 
And  cease  to  be,  themselves  to  free 

from  such  a  fearful  state. 
0  happy  Dogs,  and  Swine,  and  Frogs, 

yea,  Serpent's  generation ! 
Who  do  not  fear  this  doom  to  hear, 

and  sentence  of  Damnation  ! 


74  T  II  E    D  A  Y    0  F    D  0  0  ir . 


This  is  tlieir  state  so  desperate  ; 

their  sins  are  fully  known ; 
Their  vanities  and  villanies 
Psal.  139  : 2,  3,      before  the  world  are  shown. 
Eccl  19    14       "^^  ^^^J  ^^6  gross  and  impious, 
so  are  their  numbers  more 
Than  motes  in  th'  Air,  or  than  their  hair, 
or  sands  upon  the  shore. 

CLXSXVI. 

Divine  Justice  offended  is, 

and  satisfaction  claimeth ; 
God's  wrathful  ire,  kindled  like  fire. 
Mat.  25  :  45.  against  them  fiercely  flameth. 

Their  Judge  severe  doth  quite  cashier, 

and  all  their  pleas  off  take. 
That  ne'er  a  man,  or  dare,  or  can 

a  further  answer  make. 

CLXXXVII. 

Their  mouths  are  shut,  each  man  is  put 
Mat.  22  :  12.  to  silence  and  to  shame, 

Luke  19  f  42!     ^'^^  ^^^®  *^®y  ^"S^it  within  their  thought, 
Christ's  Justice  for  to  blame. 

The  Judge  is  just,  and  plague  them  must, 
nor  will  he  Mercy  shew, 

For  Mercy's  day  is  past  away 
to  any  of  this  Crew. 


CLXXXVIII. 

The  Judge  is  strong,  doers  of  wrong 
Mat.  28  :  18.  cannot  his  pow'r  withstand  ; 

None  can  by  flight  run  out  of  sight, 
nor  'scape  out  of  his  hand. 


THEDAYOFDOOM.  75 

Sad  is  tlieir  state  ;  for  Advocate, 

to  plead  their  cause,  there's  none ;  Psal.  137  :  7- 

None  to  prevent  their  punishment, 

or  mis'ry  to  bemoan. 


O  dismal  day  !  whither  shall  they 

for  help  and  succor  flee  ? 
To  God  above  with  hopes  to  move 

their  greatest  Enemy  ?  Isa.  33  :  14. 

His  wrath  is  great,  whose  burning  lieat  U^   •  95'.  in 

no  floods  of  tears  can  slake  ; 
Ilis  Word  stands  fast  that  they  be  cajt 

into  the  burning  Lake. 


To  Christ  their  Judge  ?     He  doth  adjudge  Mat.  25  .-  4l, 

them  to  the  Pit  of  Sorrow ;  ^^'^  ^^  =  1*^'  ^1' 

Nor  will  he  hear,  or  cry  or  tear, 

nor  respite  them  one  morrow. 
To  Heav'n,  alas  !  they  cannot  pass, 

it  is  against  them  shut ; 
To  enter  there  (0  heavy  cheer) 

they  out  of  hopes  are  put. 


Deut.  32  :  2. 


Unto  their  Treasures,  or  to  their  Pleasures?       Luke  12  :  20. 

All  these  have  them  forsaken ;  T\^n't  Ifo -^9 ^^' 

Had  they  full  coflFers  to  make  large  offers, 

their  gold  would  not  be  taken. 
Unto  the  place  where  whilom    was 

their  birth  and  Education  ? 
Lo  !  Christ  begins  for  their  great  sins, 

to  fire  the  Earth's  Foundation  ; 


76  THEDAYOFDOOM. 

CXCII. 
And  by  and  by  tlie  flaming  Sky        ' 

shall  drop  like  molten  Lead 
About  their  ears,  t'  increase  their  fears, 
2  Pet.  3  :  10.  and  aggravate  their  dread. 

To  Angel's  good  that  ever  stood     ■ 

in  their  integrity, 
Should  they  betake  themselves,  and  make 
their  suit  incessantly? 


They've  neither  skill,  nor  do  they  will 

to  work  them  any  ease ; 
They  will  not  mourn  to  see  them  burn, 
Mat.  13 :  41  42.      nor  beg  for  their  release. 
Eev.  20 :  13, 15.  ;pq  kicked  men,  their  bretherjen 
.in  sin  and  wickedness. 
Should  they  make  moan  ?     Their  case  is  one  ; 
they're  in  the  same  distress. 


Ah !  cold  comfort  and  mean  support, 
from  such  like  Comforters  ! 

Ah  !  little  joy  of  Companj-, 
Luke  16  :  2S.  and  fellow-sufferers  ! 

Such  shall  increase  their  heart's  disease, 
and  add  unto  their  woe. 

Because  that  they  brought  to  decay 
themselves  and  many  moe. 


Unto  the  Saints  with  sad  complaints 
should  they  themselves  apply  ? 
Rev.  21 :  4.       They're  not  dejected  nor  aught  afTected 
Psal.  68  :  10.         ^^j^|^  ^jj  ^j^^jj.  miserv. 


THE    DAY    OF    DOOM. 


Friends  stand  aloof  and  make  no  proof 
what  Prayers  or  Tears  can  do  ; 

Your  Godly  friends  are  now  more  friends 
to  Christ  than  unto  vou. 


Where  tender  love  men's  hearts  did  move 

unto  a  sympathy, 
And  bearing  part  of  others'  smart 

in  their  anxiety, 
Now  such  compassion  is  out  of  fashion, 

and  wholly  laid  aside  ; 
No  friends  so  near,  but  Saints  to  hear 

their  Sentence  can  abide. 


1  Cor.  6 :  2. 


One  natural  Brother  beholds  another 

in  his  astonied  lit. 
Yet  sorrows  not  thereat  a  jot, 

nor  pities  him  a  whit. 
The  godly  Wife  conceives  no  grief, 

nor  can  she  shed  a  tear 
For  the  sad  state  of  her  dear  Mate, 

when  she  his  doom  doth  hear. 


Compare 
Prov.  1 :  2G. 
■with  1  Jdlm  i 
2,  and  2  Cor. 
5:16. 


He  that  was  erst  a  Husband  pierc'd 

with  sense  of  Wife's  distress, 
Whose  tender  heart  did  bear  a  part 

of  all  her  grievances. 
Shall  mourn  no  more  as  heretofore, 

because  of  her  ill  plight, 
Although  he  see  her  now  to  be 

a  damn'd  forsaken  wight. 


y  ,C!  T  H  E    D  A  Y    0  F    D  0  O  M . 

CXCIX. 

The  tender  Mother  will  own  no  other 
of  all  her  num'rous  brood, 

But  such  as  stand  at  Christ's  right  hand, 
Luke  16  :  25.  acquitted  through  his  Blood. 

The  pious  Father  had  now  much  rather 
his  graceless  Son  should  lie 

In  Hell  with  Devils,  for  all  his  evils, 
burning  eternally, 

CO. 

Than  God  most  High  should  injury 

by  sparing  him  sustain  ; 
Psal.  58  :  10.      And  doth  rejoice  to  hear  Christ's  voice, 

adjudging  him  to  pain. 
Thus  having  all,  both  great  and  small, 

convinc'd  and  silenced, 
Christ  did  proceed  their  Doom  to  read, 

and  thus  it  uttered : 


The  Judge         "Ye  sinful  wights  and  ctirsed  sjjrights, 
[hrrtenceof      that  mrk  iniquUy, 
condemnation.   Depart  together  from  me  for  ever 
Mat  25  :  41.  ^^  g,j^^g^^  _^^-5g,.^  . 

Your  portion  take  in  yonder  Lake, 
where  Fire  and  Brimstone  flameth  ; 

Suffer  the  smart  which  your  desert, 
as  its  due  wages  claimeth." 

ecu. 
The  terror  Oh  piercing  words,  more  sharp  than  swords  ! 

of  it-  What !  to  depart  from  Thee, 

■  Whose  face  before  for  evermore 
the  best  of  Pleasures  be  ! 


THEDAYOFDOOM.  79 


Wliat !  to  depart  (unto  our  smart), 

from  thee  ELernalhj  ! 
To  be  for  aye  banisli'd  away 

with  Devils'  company ! 


What !  to  be  sent  to  Punishment, 

and  flames  of  burning  Fire  ! 
To  be  surrounded,  and  eke  confounded 

with  God's  revengeful  Ire  ! 
What !  to  abide,  not  for  a  tide, 

these  Torments,  but  for  Ever  ! 
To  be  releas'd,  or  to  be  eas'd, 

not  after  years,  but  Never  ! 


Oh  fearful  Doom !  now  there's  no  room 

for  hope  or  help  at  all ; 
Sentence  is  past  which  aye  shall  last ; 

Christ  will  not  it  recall. 
Then  might  you  hear  them  rend  and  tear 

the  Air  with  their  out-cries ; 
The  hideous  noise  of  their  sad  voice 

ascendeth  to  the  Skies. 


They  wring  their  hands,  their  caitiff-hands, 

and  gnash  their  teeth  for  terror  ;  Luke  13  :  38. 

They  cry,  they  roar  for  anguish  sore,  Prov.  1 :  26. 

and  gnaw  their  tongues  for  horror. 
But  get  away  without  delay, 

Christ  pities  not  your  cry ; 
Depart  to  Hell,  there  may  you  yell,  ' 

and  roar  Eternallj'. 


80 


THE    DAY    OF    DOOM. 


It  is  put  in 
Execution. 
JLit.  25  :  46. 


Tliat  word  '■'■Depart^''  maugre  tlieir  heart, 

drives  every  wicked  one, 
With  mighty  pow'r,  the  self-same  hour, 

far  from  the  Judge's  Throne. 
Away  they're  chas'd  by  the  strong  blast 

of  his  Death-threat' ning  mouth ; 
They  flee  full  fast,  as  if  in  haste, 

although  they  be  full  loath. 


As  chaff  that's  dry,  as  dust  doth  fly 
Mat.  13 :  41, 42.      before  the  Northern  wind. 

Right  so  are  they  chased  away, 

and  can  no  Refuge  find. 
•They  hasten  to  the  Pit  of  Woe^ 

guarded  by  Angels  stout. 
Who  to  fulfil  Christ's  holy  Will, 

attend  this  wicked  Rout ; 


Hell. 
Mat.  25 
Mark  9  : 
Isa.  30  : 
Rev.  21 


:30, 

42. 
33. 


Whom  having  brought  as  they  are  taught, 

unto  the  brink  of  Hell, 
(That  dismal  place,  far  from  Christ  s  face, 

where  Death  and  Darkness  dwell. 
Where  God's  fierce  Ire  kindleth  the  fire, 

and  vengeance  feeds  the  flame, 
With  piles  of  Wood  and  Brimstone  Flood, 

so  none  can  quench  the  same,) 


Wicked  men      With  Iron  bands  they  bind  their  hands 

and  Devils  cast      and  cursed  feet  together, 

into  It  forever.  °  ' 

Mat.  22  :  13,      And  cast  them  all,  both  great  and  small, 

and  25  :  46.  j^^g  ^j^^^^  ^^j.^  forever, 


THEDAYOFDOOM.  gX 


Where  day  and  niglit,  without  respite, 
they  wail,  and  cry  and  howl, 

For  tort'ring  pain  which  they  sustain, 
in  Body  and  in  Soul. 


For  day  and  night,  in  their  despite,  Rev.  14 :  10, 11. 

their  torment's  smoke  ascendeth. 
Their  pain  and  grief  have  no  relief, 

their  anguish  never  endeth. 
There  must  they  lie  and  never  die, 

though  dying  every  day  ; 
There  must  they  dying  ever  lie, 

and  not  consume  away. 


Die  fain  they  would  if  die  they  could, 

but  Death  will  not  be  had  ; 
God's  direful  wrath  their  bodies  hath 

forever  immortal  made. 
They  live  to  lie  in  misery, 

and  bear  eternal  woe  ; 
And  live  they  must  whilst  God  is  just, 

that  he  may  plague  them  so. 


But  who  can  tell  the  plagues  of  Hell,  The  unsuffera- 

and  torments  exquisite  ?  We  torments  of 

Who  can  relate  their  dismal  state,  Lulie  16    24. 

and  terrors  infinite  1  J"<ie  7. 

Who  fare  the  best  and  feel  the  least, 

yet  feel  that  punishment 
Whereby  to  nought  they  would  be  brought 

if  God  did  not  prevent. 


THE    DAY    OF    DOOM. 


The  least  degree  of  misery 
there  felt  is  incomparable ; 
Isa.  33  :  14.       The  lightest  pain  they  there  sustain 
Mark  9  :  43, 44.      jg  ^^^^^  ^^^^  intolerable. 

But  God's  great  pow'r  from  hour  to  hour 

upholds  them  in  the  fire, 
That  they  shall  not  consume  a  jot 

nor  by  its  force  expire. 


But,  ah,  the  woe  they  undergo 

{they  more  than  all  beside) 
Who  had  the  light,  and  knew  the  right, 
Luke  12  :  47.         yet  would  not  it  abide  ! 

The  sev'n  fold  smart  which  to  their  part 

and  porti-on  doth  fall. 
Who  Christ's  free  Grace  would  not  embrace, 

nor  hearken  to  his  call. 

ccxv. 
The  Amorites  and  Sodomites, 
Mat.  11 :  24.  although  their  plagues  be  sore, 

Yet  find  some  ease  compar'd  to  these, 

who  feel  a  great  deal  more. 
Almighty  God,  whose  Iron  Rod, 

to  smite  them  never  lins. 
Doth  most  declare  his  Justice  rare 
in  plaguing  these  men's  sins. 


The  pain  of  loss  their  souls  doth  toss, 
and  wond'rously  distre 
)  think  what  they  have 
by  willful  wickedness. 


Luke  16  :  23,         and  wond'rously  distress, 
25,  and  13  :  28,  „     ...    ,       ,     .  ^i        i  ^ 

io  think  what  they  nave  cast  away 


THEDAYOFDOOM.  §3 


"  We  miglit  have  been  redeem'd  from  sin," 

think  they,  "  and  liv'd  above, 
Being  possesst  of  Heav'niy  rest, 

and  joying  in  God's  love. 


"  But  woe,  woe,  woe,  our  Souls  unto ! 

we  would  not  happy  be  ; 
And  therefore  bear  God's  vengeance  here  Luke  13  :  24. 

to  all  Eternity. 
Experience  and  woful  sense 

must  be  our  painful  teachers, 
Who'd  not  believe,  nor  credit  give 

unto  our  faithful  Preachers." 


Thus  shall  they  lie  and  wail  and  cry, 

tormented  and  tormenting ; 
Their  galled  hearts  with  poison'd  darts,  Mat.  9  :  44. 

but  now  too  late  repenting.  ^°™-  '^  •  ^^• 

There  let  them  dwell  in  th'  Flames  of  Eell  : 

there  leave  we  them  to  burn, 
And  back  again  unto  the  men 

whom  Christ  acquits,  return. 


The  Saints  behold  with  courage  bold  The  Saints 

and  thankful  wonderment,  rejoice  to  see 

m  n  XT  1  n     .     n  Judgment  exe- 

io  see  all  those  that  were  their  foes  cuted  upon  ihe, 

thus  sent  to  punishment.  ^''^H'l^X?,''^*^- 

rrn  n       1  Psal.  58  :  10. 

Ihen  do  they  smg  unto  their  King  Rev.  10  : 1, 

a  Song  of  endless  Praise  ;  ^'  ^• 

They  praise  his  Name  and  do  proclaim 
that  just  are  all  his  ways. 


84 


THE    DAY  OF    DOOM. 


They  af3cend 
■withChu-ist  in- 
to Heaven  tri- 
umphing. 
Maf.  25  :  46. 


Thus  witli  great  joy  and  melody 

to  Heav'n  they  all  ascend, 
Him  there  to  praise  with  sweetest  lays, 

and  Hymns  that  never  end ; 
"Where  with  long  rest  they  shall  be  blest, 

and  naught  shall  them  annoy, 
Where  they  shall  see  as  seen  they  be, 

and  whom  they  love  enjoy. 


1  John  3  :  2. 
1  Cor  13  12. 
Their  eternal 
happiness  and 
incomparable 
glory  there. 


Oh  glorious  Place  !  where  face  to  face 

Jehovah  may  be  seen, 
By  such  as  were  sinners  while  here, 

and  no  dark  veil  between  ! 
"Where  the  Sunshine  and  light  Divine 

of  God's  bright  countenance. 
Doth  rest  upon  them  every  one, 

with  sweetest  influence  ! 


CCXXII, 

Oh  blessed  state  of  the  Renate  ! 

Oh  wond'rous  happiness. 
To  which  they're  brought  beyond  what  thought 
Kev.  21 :  4.  •  can  reach  or  words  express ! 

Grief's  watercourse  and  sorrow's  source 

are  turn'd  to  joyful  streams; 
Their  old  distress  and  heaviness 

are  vanished  like  dreams. 


Psal.  16 :  11. 


CCXXIII. 

For  God  above  in  arms  of  love 

doth  dearly  them  embrace, 
And  fills  their  sprights  with -such  delights, 

and  pleasures  in  his  Grace, 


T  H  E    D  A  Y    0  F    D  0  0  JI .  g  J 


As  shall  not  fail,  nor  yet  grow  stale, 
through  frequency  of  use  ; 

Nor  do  they  fear  God's  favor  there 
to  forfeit  by  abuse. 


For  there  the  Saints  are  perfect  Saints, 

and  holy  ones  indeed ; 
From  all  the  sin  that  dwelt  within  Heb.  12  :  23. 

their  mortal  bodies  freed  ; 
Made  Kings  and  Priests  to  God  through  Christ's 

dear  Love's  transcendency, 
There  to  remain  and  there  to  reign  Rev.  1 :  6 

with  him  Eternally.  *i<i  22  :  5. 


A  SHORT  DISCOURSE  ON  ETERNITY. 


What  mortal  man  can  with  a  Span 

mete  out  Eternity  ? 
Or  fathom  it  by  depth  of  Wit, 

or  strength  of  Memory  ? 
The  lofty  Sky  is  not  so  high, 

Hell's  depth  to  this  is  small ; 
The  World  so  wide  is  but  a  stride, 

compared  therewithal. 

It  is  a  main  great  Oce-an 

withouten  bank  or  bound, 
A  deep  Abyss,  wherein  there  is 

no  bottom  to  be  found. 
This  World  hath  stood  now  since  the  Flood, 

four  thousand  years  well  near, 
And  had  before  endured  more 

than  sixteen  hundred  year. 

But  what's  the  time  from  the  World's  prime, 

unto  this  present  day. 
If  we  thereby  Eternity 

to  measure  should  essay  ? 
The  whole  duration  since  the  Creation, 

though  long,  yet  is  more  little. 
If  placed  by  Eternity, 

than  is  the  smallest  tittle. 


88  ETERNITY. 

Tell  every  Star  botli  near  and  far, 

in  Heav'n's  bright  Canopy 
That  dotli  appear  tlirougliout  the  year 

of  high  or  low  degree : 
Tell  every  Tree  that  thou  canst  see 

in  this  vast  Wilderness, 
Up  in  the  "Woods,  down  by  the  Floods, 

in  thousand  miles  Progress  : 

The  sum  is  vast,  yet  not  so  vast 

but  that  thou  may'st  go  on 
To  multiply  the  leaves  thereby, 

that  hang  those  Trees  upon : 
Add  thereunto  the  Drops  that  thou 

imaginest  to  be 
In  April  Show'rs,  that  bring  forth  Flow'rs 

and  blossoms  plenteously : 

Number  the  Fowls  and  living  Souls 

that  through  the  Air  do  fly, 
The  winged  Hosts  in  all  their  Coasts 

beneath  the  starry  Sky  : 
Count  all  the  Grass  as  thou  dost  pass 

through  many  a  pp,sture-land. 
And  dewy  Drops  that  on  the  tops 

of  Herbs  and  Plants  do  stand  : 

Number  the  Sand  upon  the  Strand, 

and  atoms  of  the  Air ; 
And  do  thy  best  on  Man  and  Beast, 

to  reckon  every  Hair  : 
Take  all  the  Dust,  if  so  thou  lust, 

and  add  to  thine  Account : 
Yet  shall  the  Years  of  Sinners'  tears, 

the  Number  far  surmount. 


KTERNITY.  gg 

Naught  join'd  to  naught  can  ne'er  make  aught, 

nor  Cyphers  make  a  Sum ; 
Nor  things  finite,  to  infinite 

by  multiplying  come : 
A  Cockle-shell  may  serve  as  well 

to  lade  the  Ocean  dry 
As  finite  things  and  reckonings 

to  bound  Eternity. 

Oh  happy  they  that  live  for  aye, 

with  Christ  in  Heav'n  above  ! 
Who  know  withal  that  nothing  shall 

deprive  them  of  his  love. 
Eternity,  Eternity  ! 

Oh  !  were  it  not  for  thee, 
The  Saints  in  bliss  and  happiness 

could  never  happy  be. 

For  if  they  were  in  any  fear 

that  this  their  joy  might  cease, 
It  would  annoy  (if  not  destroy) 

and  interrupt  their  peace. 
But  being  sure  it  shall  endure 

so  long  as  God  shall  live  ; 
The  thoughts  of  this,  unto  their  bliss, 

do  full  perfection  give. 

Cheer  up  ye  Saints  amidst  your  wants 

and  sorrows  many  a  one  ; 
Lift  up  the  head,  shake  off  all  dread, 

and  moderate  your  moan. 
Your  sufferings  and  evil  'things 

will  suddenly  be  past ; 
Your  sweet  Fruitions  and  blessed  Visions, 

for  evermore  shall  last. 


90  ETERNITY. 

Lament  and  mourn  you  that  must  burn 

amidst  those  flaming  Seas  : 
If  once  you  come  to  such  a  doom, 

for  ever  farewell  ease. 
0  sad  estate  and  desperate, 

that  never  can  be  mended. 
Until  God's  Will  shall  change,  or  till 

Eternity  be  ended  ! 

If  any  one  this  Questi-on 

shall  unto  me  propound  : 
What !  have  the  years  of  Sinners'  tears 

no  limits  or  no  bound  ? 
It  kills  our  heart  to  think  of  smart, 

and  pains  that  last  for  ever  ; 
And  hear  of  fire  that  shall  expire, 

or  be  extinguish'd  never, 

I'll  answer  make  (and  let  them  take 

my  words  as  I  intend  them ; 
For  this  is  all  the  Cordi-al 

that  here  I  have  to  lend  them : ) 
When  Heav'n  shall  cease  to  flow  with  peace 

and  all  felicity. 
Then  Hell  may  cease  to  be  the  place 

of  Woe  and  Misery. 

When  Heav'n  is  Hell,  when  111  is  Well, 

when  Virtue  turns  to  Vice ; 
When  Wrong  is  Right,  when  Dark  is  Light, 

when  Naught  is  of  great  price ; 
Then  may  the  years  of  Sinners'  tears 

and  sufferings  expire, 
And  all  the  Hosts  of  damned  Ghosts 

escape  out  of  Hell-fire. 


ETERNITY.  91 

Wheu  Christ  above  shall  cease  to  love, 

when  God  shall  cease  to  reign 
And  be  no  more  as  heretofore 

the  World's  great  Sovereign ; 
Or  not  be  just,  or  favor  lust, 

or  in  Men's  sins  delight ; 
Then  wicked  men  (and  not  till  then) 

to  Heav'n  may  take  their  flight. 

"When  God's  great  Power  shall  be  brought  lower, 

by  foreign  Puissance, 
Or  be  decay'd  and  weaker  made 

through  Time's  continuance ;_ 
When  drowsiness  shall  him  oppress, 

and  lay  him  fast  asleep, 
Then  sinful  men  may  break  their  pen, 

and  out  of  Prison  creep. 

When  those  in  Glory  shall  be  right  sorry 

they  may  not  change  their  place, 
And  wish  to  dwell  with  those  in  Hell, 

never  to  see  Christ's  face  ; 
Then  those  in  pain  may  freedom  gain 

and  be  with  Glory  dight : 
Then  Hellish  fiends  may  be  Christ's  Friends, 

and  Heirs  of  Heaven  hight. 

Then,  ah !  poor  men  !   What !  not  till  then  ? 

No,  not  an  hour  before  ; 
For  God  is  just,  and  therefore  must 

torment  them  evermore. 
Eternity  !     Eternity  ! 

thou  mak'st  hard  hearts  to  bleed  : 
The  thoughts  of  thee  in  misery, 

do  make  men  wail  indeed. 


92  ETERNITY. 

When  they  remind  what's  still  behind 

and  ponder  this  word  NEVER, 
That  they  must  there  be  made  to  bear 

God's  Vengeance  for  EVER : 
The  thought  of  this  more  bitter  is 

than  all  they  feel  beside  ; 
Yet  what  they  feel,  nor  heart  of  steel, 

nor  flesh  of  brass  can  bide. 

To  lie  in  woe  and  undergo 

the  direful  pains  of  Hell, 
And  know  withal,  that  there  they  shall 

for  aye  and  ever  dwell ; 
And  that  they  are  from  rest  as  far 

when  fifty  thousand  year. 
Twice  told,  are  spent  in  punishment, 

as  when  they  first  came  there  ; 

This,  oh  !  this  makes  Hell's  fiery  flakes 

much  more  intolerable ; 
This  makes  frail  wights  and  damned  sprites 

to  bear  their  plagues  unable. 
This  makes  men  bite,  for  fell  despite, 

their  very  tongues  in  twain  ; 
This  makes  them  roar  for  great  horrcr, 

and  trebleth  all  their  pain. 


A  POSTSCRIPT  UNTO  THE  READER. 


And  now,  good  Reader,  I  return  again 

To  talk  with  thee  who  hast  been  at  the  pain 

To  read  throughout  and  heed  what  went  before  ; 

And  unto  thee  I'll  speak  a  little  more. 

Give  ear  I  pray  thee  unto  what  I  say, 

That  God  may  hear  thy  voice  another  day. 

Thou  hast  a  Soul,  my  Friend,  and  so  have  I, 

To  save  or  lose ;  a  Soul  that  cannot  die  ; 

A  Soul  of  greater  price  than  Gold  or  Gems  ; 

A  Soul  more  worth  than  Crowns  and  Diadems ; 

A  Soul  at  first  created  like  its  jMaker, 

And  of  God's  Image  made  to  be  partaker  : 

Upon  the  wings  of  noblest  Faculties, 

Taught  for  to  soar  above  the  Starry  Skies, 

And  not  to  rest,  until  it  understood 

Itself  possessed  of  the  chiefest  Good. 

And  since  the  Fall  thy  Soul  retaineth  still 

Those  faculties  of  Reason  and  of  Will, 

But  oh  !  how  much  deprav'd  and  out  of  frame, 

As  if  they  were  some  other's,  not  the  same  ! 

Thine  Understanding  dismally  benighted. 

And  Reason's  eye  in  Spir'tual  things  dim-sighted, 

Or  else  stark  blind  ;  thy  Will  inclin'd  to  evil, 

And  nothing  else ;  a  slave  unto  the  Devil ; 

That  loves  to  live,  and  liveth  to  transgress, 

But  shuns  the  way  of  God  and  Holiness. 


94  .  POSTSCRIPT. 

All  thine  AfTections  are  disordered, 

And  thus  by  headstrong  Passions  are  misled. 

What  need  I  tell  thee  of  thy  crooked  way, 

And  many  wicked  wand'rings  every  day  ? 

Or  that  thine  own  transgressi-ons  are  more 

In  number  than  the  sands  upon  the  Shore  1 

Thou  art  a  lump  of  wickedness  become. 

And  may'st  with  horror  think  upon  thy  Doom, 

Until  thy  Soul  be  washed  in  the  flood 

Of  Christ's  most  dear,  soul-cleansing,  precious  Blood, 

That,  that  alone  can  do  away  thy  sin. 

Which  thou  wert  born  and  hast  long  lived  in  -, 

That,  only  that  can  pacify  God's  wrath. 

If  apprehended  by  a  lively  Faith, 

Now  whilst  the  day  and  means  of  Grace  do  last, 

Before  the  opportunity  bo  past. 

But  if,  0  man,  thou  liv'st  a  Christless  creature, 
And  Death  surprise  thee  in  a  state  of  nature, 
(As  who  can  tell  but  that  may  be  thy  case  ?) 
How  wilt  thou  stand  before  the  Judge's  face. 
When  he  shall  be  reveal'd  in  flaming  fire, 
And  come  to  pay  ungodly  men  their  hire, 
To  execute  due  vengeance  upon  those 
That  knew  him  not,  or  that  had  been  his  foes  ? 
What  wilt  thou  answer  unto  his  demands. 
When  he  requires  a  reason  at  thy  hands. 
Of  all  the  things  that  thou  hast  said  or  done. 
Or  left  undone,  or  set  thine  heart  upon  ? 
When  he  shall  thus  with  thee  expostulate  : 
"  What  cause  hadst  thna  thy  Maker  for  to  hate, 
To  take  up  arms  against  thy  Sovereign, 
And  enmity  against  him  to  maintain  ? 
What  injury  hath  God  Almighty  done  thee  ? 


POSTSCRIPT.  95 

What  good  hath  he  withheld  that  might  have  won  thee  ? 

What  evil,  or  injustice  hast  thou  found 

In  him  that  might  unto  thine  hurt  redound  ? 

If  neither  felt  nor  feared  injury 

Hath  mov^d  thee  to  such  hostility, 

What  made  thee  then  the  Fountain  to  forsake. 

And  unto  broken  Pits  thyself  betake  ? 

What  reason  hadst  thou  to  dishonor  God, 

Tyho  thee  with  Mercies  never  ceas'd  to  load  ? 

Because  the  Lord  was  good  hast  thou  been  evil, 

And  taken  part  against  him  with  the  Devil  ? 

For  all  his  cost  to  pay  him  with  despite, 

And  all  his  love  with  hatred  to  requite  ? 

Is  this  the  fruit  of  God's  great  patience. 

To  wax  more  bold  in  disobedience  ? 

To  kick  against  the  bowels  of  his  Love  ? 

Is  this  aright  his  Bounty  to  improve  1 

Stand  still,  ye  Heav'ns,  and  be  astonished. 

That  God  by  man  should  thus  be  injured  ! 

Give  ear,  0  Earth,  and  tremble  at  the  sin 

Of  those  that  thine  Inhabitants  have  been  !~ 

But  thou,  vile  wretch,  hast  added  unto  all 

Thine  other  faults  and  facts  so  criminal. 

The  damning  sin  of  willful  unbelief; 

Of  all  Transgressors  hast  thou  been  the  chief. 

Yet  when  time  was  thou  might'st  have  been  set  free 

From  Sin  and  Wrath  and  punishment  b}^  me ; 

But  thou  would'st  not  accept  of  Gospel  Grace, 

Nor  on  my  terms  Eternal  Life  embrace. 

As  if  that  all  thy  breaches  of  God's  Law 

Were  not  enough  upon  thy  head  to  draw 

Eternal  Wrath,  thou  hast  despis'd  a  Savior, 

Rejected  me,  and  trampled  on  my  favor. 

How  oft  have  I  stood  knocking  at  thy  door. 


96  POSTSCRIPT. 

And  been  denied  entrance  evermore  ? 
How  often  hath  my  Spirit  been  withstood, 
When  as  I  sent  him  to  have  done  thee  good  ? 
Thou  hast  no  need  of  any  one  to  plead 
Thy  cause  or  for  thy  Soul  to  intercede : 
Plead  for  thyself,  if  thou  hast  aught  to  say, 
And  pay  thy  forfeiture  without  delay. 
Behold  thou  dost  ten  thousand  Talents  owe  ; 
Pay  thou  the  debt  or  else  to  Prison  go." 

Think,  think,  0  man,  when  Christ  shall  thus  unfold 

Thy  secret  guilt,  and  make  thee  to  behold 

The  ugly  face  of  all  thy  sinful  errors, 

And  fill  thy  soul  with  his  amazing  terrors. 

And  let  thee  see  the  flaming  Pit  of  Ilell, 

"Where  all  that  have  no  part  in  him  shall  dwell ; 

When  he  shall  thus  expostulate  the  case. 

How  canst  thou  bear  to  look  him  in  the  face  ? 

What  wilt  thou  do  without  an  Advocate, 

Or  plead,  when  thus  thy  state  is  desperate  ? 

Dost  think  to  put  him  off  with  fair  pretenses  ? 

Or  wilt  thou  hide  and  cover  thine  offenses  7 

Can  anything  from  him  concealed  be. 

Who  doth  the  hidden  things  of  darkness  see  ? 

Art  thou  of  force  his  Power  to  withstand  ? 

Canst  thou  by  might  escape  out  of  his  hand '? 

Dost  thou  intend  to  run  out  of  his  sight, 

And  save  thyself  from  punishment  by  flight  ? 

Or  wilt  thou  be  eternally  accurst, 

And  'bide  his  Vengeance,  let  him  do  his  worst? 

Oh  !"  who  qan  bear  his  indignation's  heat  ? 

Or  'bide  the  pains  of  Hell  which  are  so  great  1 

If,  then,  thou  neither  canst  his  Wrath  endure. 
Nor  any  ransom  after  death  procure ; 


POSTSCRIPT.  97 

Tf  neitlier  Cries  n6r  Tears  can  move  Lis  heart 

To  pardon  thee  or  mitigate  thy  smart, 

But  unto  Hell  thou  must -perforce  be  sent, 

With  dismal  horror  and  astonishment, 

Consider,  0  my  Friend,  what  cause  thou  hast, 

With  fear  and  trembling  (while  as  yet  thou  may'st), 

To  lay  to  heart  thy  sin  and  misery, 

And  to  make  out  after  the  Remedy. 

Consider  well  the  greatness  of  thy  danger, 

O  Child  of  wrath,  and  object  of  God's  anger. 

Thou  hangest  over  the  Infernal  Pit, 

By  one  small  thread,  and  car'st  not  thou  a  whit  1 

There's  but  a  step  between  thy  Soul  and  Death ; 

Nothing  remains  but  stopping  of  thy  breath, 

(Which  may  be  done  to-morrow,  or  before) 

And  then  thou  art  undone  forevermore. 

Let  this  awaken  thy  security, 

And  make  thee  look  about  thee  speedily. 

How  canst  thou  rest  an  hour  or  sleep  a  night, 

Or  in  thy  creature-comforts  take  delight  ? 

Or  with  vain  Toys  thyself  forgetful  make 

How  near  thou  art  unto  the  burning  Lake  ? 

How  canst  thou  live  without  tormenting  fears  1 

How  canst  thou  hold  from  weeping  floods  of  tears  1 

Yea,  tears  of  blood,  I  might  almost  have  said. 

If  such-like  tears  could  from  thine  eyes  be  shed. 

To  gain  the  world  what  will  it  profit  thee. 

And  lose  thy  soul  and  self  eternally  ? 

Eternity  on  one  small  point  dependeth ; 

The  man  is  lost  that  this  short  life  misspendeth. 

For  as  the  Tree  doth  fall,  right  so  it  lies. 

And  man  continues  in  what  state  he  dies. 

Who  happy  die  shall  happy  rise  again ; 


98  POSTSCRIPT. 

Who  cursed  die  sliall  cursed  still  remain. 
If  under  Sin  and  Wratli  Death  leaves  thee  bound, 
At  Judgment  under  Wrath  thou  shalt  be  found  ; 
And  then  woe  woe  that  ever  thou  wert  born, 
O  wretched  man,  of  Heav'n  and  Earth  forlorn  ! 
Consider  this,  all  ye  that  God  forget, 
Who  all  his  threatenings  at  naught  do  set. 
Lest  into  pieces  he  begin  to  tear 
Your  souls,  and  there  be  no  deliverer. 

O  you  that  now  sing  care  and  fear  away. 

Think  often  of  the  formidable  Day, 

Wherein  the  Heavens  with  a  mighty  noise. 

And  with  a  hideous,  heart-confounding  voice 

Shall  pass  away,  together  being  roll'd, 

As  men  are  wont  their  garments  up  to  fold ; 

When  th'  Elements  with  fervent  heat  shall  melt. 

And  living  Creatures  in  the  same  shall  swelt, 

And  altogether  in  those  ilames  expire. 

Which  set  the  Earth's  Foundati-ons  on  fire. 

Oh  !  what  amazements  will  your  hearts  be  in. 

And  how  will  you  to  curse  yourselves  begin. 

For  all  your  damned  sloth  and  negligence. 

And  unbelief  and  gross  Impenitence, 

When  you  shall  hear  that  dreadful  Sentence  pass'd, 

That  all  the  wicked  into  Hell  be  cast ! 

What  horrors  will  your  Consciences  surprise. 

When  you  shall  hear  the  fruitless,  doleful  cries 

Of  such  as  are  compelled  to  depart 

Unto  the  place  of  everlasting  smart ! 

What !  when  you  see  the  sparks  fly  out  of  Hell, 

And  view  the  Dungeon  where  you  are  to  dwell. 

Wherein  you  must  eternally  remain 

In  anguish  and  intolerable  pain  ! 

What !  when  your  hands  and  feet  are  bound  together. 


POSTSCRIPT.  99 

And  you  are  cast  into  the  Lake  forevez* ! 
Then  shall  you  feel  the  truth  of  what  j-ou  hear, 
That  Hellish  pains  are  more  than  you  can  bear, 
And  that  those  Torments  are  an  hundred  fold 
More  terrible  than  ever  you  were  told. 

Nor  speak  I  this,  good  Reader,  to  torment  thee 

Before  the  time,  but  rather  to  prevent  thee 

From  running  headlong  to  thine  own  decay. 

In  such  a  perilous  and  deadly  way. 

We  who  have  known  and  felt  Jehovah's  terrors, 

Persuade  men  to  repent  them  of  their  errors, 

And  turn  to  God  in  time  ere  his  Decree 

Bring  forth,  and  then  there  be  no  Remedy. 

If  in  the  night,  when  thou  art  fast  asleep. 

Some  friend  of  thine  that  better  watch  doth  keep, 

Should  see  thy  house  all  on  a  burning  flame. 

And  thee  almost  inclosed  with  the  same : 

If  such  a  friend  should  break  thy  door  and  wake  thee, 

Or  else  by  force  out  of  the  peril  take  thee, 

What !  wouldst  thou  take  his  kindness  in  ill  part, 

Or  frown  upon  him  for  his  good  desert  ? 

Such,  0  my  friend,  such  is  thy  present  state 
And  danger,  being  unregenerate. 
Awake,  awake,  and  then  thou  shalt  perceive 
Thy  peril  greater  than  thou  wilt  believe. 
Lift  up  thine  eyes,  and  see  God's  wrathful  ire 
Preparing  unextinguishable  fire 
For  all  that  live  and  die  impenitent. 
Awake,  awake,  0  Sinner,  and  repent, 
And  quarrel  not  because  I  thus  alarm 
Thy  Soul,  to  save  it  from  eternal  harm. 

Perhaps  thou  harborest  such  thoughts  as  these  : 
"  I  hope  1  may  enjoy  my  carnal  ease 


100  •  POSTSCRIPT. 

A  little  longer,  and  myself  refresh 

"Witli  tliose  delights  that  gratify  the  fle.sh, 

And  yet  repent  before  it  be  too  late, 

And  get  into  a  comfortable  state. 

I  hope  I  have  yet  many  years  to  spend. 

And  time  enough  those  matters  to  attend." 

Presumptuous  heart !     Is  God  engag'd  to  give 

A  longer  time  to  such  as  love  to  live' 

Like  Rebels  still,  who  think  to  strain  his  Glory 

By  wickedness,  and  after  to  be  sorry  7 

Unto  thy  lust  shall  he  be  made  a  drudge, 

Who  thee  and  all  ungodly  men  shall  judge  ? 

Canst  thou  account  sin  sweet,  and  yet  confess 

That  first  or  last  it  ends  in  bitterness  ? 

Is  sin  a  thing  that  must  procure  thee  sorrow, 

And  wouldst  thou  dally  with't  another  morrow  1 

0  foolish  man  who  lovest  to  enjoy 

That  which  will  thee  distress,  or  else  destroy  ! 

What  gained  Samson  by  his  Delilah  ? 

What  gained  David  by  his  Bathshebah  1 

The  one  became  a  slave,  lost  both  his  eyes. 

And  made  them  sport  that  were  his  enemies  ; 

The  other  penneth,  as  a  certain  token 

Of  God's  displeasure,  that  his  bones  were  broken, 

Besides  the  woes  he  after  met  withal, 

To  chasten  him  for  that  his  grievous  Fall : 

His  own  Son  Ammon,  using  crafty  wiles, 

His  Daughter  Thamar  wickedly  defiles  : 

His  second  Son,  more  beautiful  than  good, 

His  hands  embreweth  in  his  Brother's  blood  : 

And  by  and  by,  aspiring  to  the  Crown, 

He  strives  to  pull  his  gentle  Father  down ; 

With  hellish  rage,  him  fiercely  persecuting, 

And  brutishly  his  Concubines  polluting. 


POSTSCRIPT.  101 

Read  wlioso  list,  and  ponder  what  he  read3, 
And  he  shall  find  small  joj  in  eyil  deeds. 

IMoreover  this  consider,  that  the  longer 

Thou  liv'st  in  sin,  thy  sins  will  grow  the  stronger ; 

And  then  it  will  an  harder  matter  prove 

To  leave  those  wicked  haunts  that  thou  dost  love. 

The  Black'moor  may  as  eas'ly  change  his  skin, 

As  old  Transgressors  leave  their  wonted  sin. 

And  who  can  tell  what  will  become  of  thee, 

Or  where  thy  Soul  in  one  day's  time  may  be  1 

We  see  that  Death  ne'er  old  nor  young  men  spares. 

But  one  and  other  takes  at  unawares ; 

For  in  a  moment,  whilst  men  Peace  do  cry, 

Destruction  seizeth  on  them  suddenly. 

Thou  who  this  morning  art  a  lively  wight, 

May'st  be  a  corpse  and  damn6d  Ghost  ere  night. 

Oh  !  dream  not  then  that  it  will  serve  thy  turn 
Upon  thy  Death-bed  for  thy  sins  to  mourn ; 
But  think  how  many  have  been  snatch'd  away, 
And  had  no  time  for  mercy  once  to  pray. 
It's  just  with  God  Repentance  to  deny 
To  such  as  put  it  off  until  they  die. 
And  late  Repentance  seldom  proveth  true, 
"Which,  if  it  fail,  thou  know'st  what  must  ensue ; 
For  after  this  short  life  is  at  an  end, 
What  is  amiss  thou  never  canst  amend. 
Believe,  O  man,  that  to  procrastinate, 
And  put  it  off  until  it  be  too  late, 
As  'tis  thy  sin,  so  it  is  Satan's  wile, 
Whereby  he  doth  great  multitudes  beguile. 
How  many  thousands  hath  this  strong  delusion 
Already  brought  to  ruin  a.nd  confusion. 
Whose  souls  are  now  reserv'd  in  iron  chains. 


102  POSTSCRIPT. 

Under  thick  darkness  to  Eternal  Pains  ! 

They  thought  of  many  years,  as  thou  dost  now, 

But  were  deceived  quite,  and  so  may'st  thou. 

Oh  !  then,  my  friend,  waste  not  away  thy  time. 

Nor  by  rebellion  aggravate  thy  ci;ime. 

Oh !  put  not  off  Repentance  till  to-morrow, 

Adventure  not,  without  God's  leave,  to  borrow 

Another  day  to  spend  upon  thy  lust, 

Lest  God  (that  is  most  Holy,  "Wise,  and  Just) 

Denounce  in  wrath,  and  to  thy  terror  say, 

"  This  night  shall  Devils  fetch  thy  Soul  away/"' 

Now  seek  the  face  of  God  with  all  thy  heart, 

Acknowledge  unto  him  how  vile  thou  art. 

Tell  him  thy  Sins  deserve  eternal  wrath, 

And  that  it  is  a  wonder  that  he  hath 

Permitted  thee  so  long  to  draw  thy  breath, 

"Who  might  have  cut  thee  off  by  sudden  death, 

And  sent  thy  Soul  into  the  lowest  Pit, 

From  whence  no  price  should  ever  ransom  it ; 

And  that  he  may  most  justly  do  it  still, 

(Because  thou  hast  deserv'd  it)  if  he  will. 

Yet  also  tell  him  that,  if  he  shall  please. 

He  can  forgive  thy  sins  and  thee  release. 

And  that  in  Christ  his  Son  he  may  be  just 

And  justify  all  those  that  on  him  trust  ; 

That  though  thy  sins  are  of  a  crimson  dye, 

Yet  Christ  his  Blood  can  cleanse  thee  thoroughly. 

Tell  him  that  he  may  make  his  Glorious  Name 

More  wonderful  by  covering  thy  shame  ; 

That  Mercy  may  be  greatly  magnified, 

And  justice  also  fully  satisfied. 

If  he  shall  please  to  own  thee  in  his  Son, 

"Who  hath  paid  dear  for  Man's  Redempti-on. 


POSTSCRIPT.  103 

Tell  him  tliou  hast  an  unbelieving  heart, 

"Which  hind'reth  thee  from  coming  for  a  part 

In  Christ ;  and  that  although  his  terrors  awe  thee, 

Thou  canst  not  come  till  he  be  pleas'd  to  draw  thee. 

Tell  him  thou  know'st  thine  heart  to  be  so  bad, 

And  thy  condition  so  exceeding  sad. 

That  though  Salvation  may  be  had  for  naught 

Thou  canst  not  come  and  take  it  till  thou'rt  brought. 

Oh  !  beg  of  him  to  bow  thy  stubborn  will 

To  come  to  Christ,  that  he  thy  lusts  may  kill. 

Look  up  to  Christ  for  his  attractive  pow'r, 

Which  he  exerteth  in  a  needful  hour ; 

Who  saith,  "  When  as  I  lifted  up  shall  be. 

Then  will  I  draw  all  sorts  of  men  to  me." 

Oh !  wait  upon  him  with  true  diligence 

And  trembling  fear  in  every  Ordinance ; 

Unto  his  Call  earnest  attention  give. 

Whose  voice  makes  deaf  men  hear  and  dead  men  live. 

Thus  weep  and  mourn,  thus  hearken,  pray,  and  wait, 

Till  he  behold  and  pity  thine  estate. 

Who  is  more  ready  to  bestow  his  Grace 

Than  thou  the  same  art  willing  to  embrace ; 

Yea,  he  hath  Might  enough  to  bring  thee  home, 

Though  thou  hast  neither  strength  nor  will  to  come. 

If  he  delay  to  answer  thy  request, 

Know  that  ofttimes  he  doth  it  for  the  best ; 

Not  with  intent  to  drive  us  from  his  door. 

But  for  to  make  us  importune  him  more  ; 

Or  else  to  bring  us  daily  to  confess, 

And  be  convinc'd  of  our  unworthiness. 

Oh !  be  not  weary,  then,  but  persevere 

To  beg  his  Grace  till  he  thy  suit  shall  hear ; 

And  leave  him  not,  nor  from  his  footstool  go. 

Till  over  thee  Compassion's  skirt  he  throw. 


104  POSTSCRIPT. 

Eternal  Life  shall  recompense  thy  pains, 
If  found  at  last,  witli  everlasting  gains. 
For  if  the  Lord  be  pleas'd  to  hear  thy  cries, 
And  to  forgive  thy  great  iniquities, 
Thou  wilt  have  cause  forever  to  admire 
And  laud  his  Grace,  that  granted  thy  desire. 
Then  shalt  thou  find  thy  labor  is  not  lost, 
But  that  the  good  obtain' d  surmounts  the  cost. 
Nor  shalt  thou  grieve  for  loss  of  sinful  pleasures, 
Exchang'd  for  Heav'nly  joys  and  lasting  treasures. 
The  yoke  of  Christ  which  once  thou  didst  esteem 
A  tedious  yoke,  shall  then  most  easy  seem. 
For  why  ?   .  The  love  of  Christ  shall  thee  constrain 
To  take  delight  in  that  which  was  thy  pain. 
The  ways  of  Wisdom  shall  be  pleasant  ways, 
And  thou  shalt  choose  therein  to  spend  thy  days. 

If  once  thy  Soul  be  brought  to  such  a  pass, 
O  bless  the  Lord  and  magnify  his  Grace. 
Thou  that  of  late  hadst  reason  to  be  sad, 
May'st  now  rejoice  and  be  exceeding  glad  ; 
For  thy  condition  is  as  happy  now 
As  erst  it  was  disconsolate  and  low. 
Thou  art  become  as  rich,  as  whilom  poor ; 
As  blessed  now  as  cursed  heretofore. 
For  being  cleansed  with  Christ's  precious  Blood, 
Thou  hast  an  int'rest  in  the  chiefest  Good  ; 
God's  anger  is  towards  thy  Soul  appeas'd. 
And  in  his  Christ  he  is  with  thee  well  pleas'd. 
Yea,  he  doth  look  upon  thee  with  a  mild 
,  And  gracious  aspect,  as  upon  his  child. 
He  is  become  thy  Father  and  thy  Friend, 
And  will  defend  thee  from  the  cursed  Fiend. 
Thou  need'st  not  fear  the  roaring  Lion's  rage, 
Since  God  Almighty  doth  himself  engage 


POSTSCRIPT.  105 

To  bear  tliy  Soul  in  everlasting  Arms, 
Above  tlie  reach,  of  all  destructive  harms. 
Whatever  here  thy  sufferings  may  be, 
Yet  from  them  all  the  Lord  shall  rescue  thee. 
He  will  preserve  thee  by  his  wond'rous  Might 
Unto  that  rich  Inheritance  in  Light. 

O  sing  for  joy,  all  ye  Regenerate, 

"Whom  Christ  hath  brought  unto  this  blessed  state  ! 

0  love  the  Lord  all  ye  his  saints,  who  hath 

Redeemed  you  from  everlasting  wrath  ! 

Who  hath  by  dying  made  your  Souls  to  live. 

And  what  he  dearly  bought  doth  freely  give. 

Give  up  yourselves  to  walk  in  all  his  ways. 

And  study  how  to  live  unto  his  praise. 

The  time  is  short  you  have  to  serve  him  here  ; 

The  day  of  your  deliv'rance  draweth  near. 

Lift  up  your  heads,  ye  upright  ones  in  heart, 

Who  in  Christ's  purchase  have  obtain'd  a  part. 

Behold  he  rides  upon  a  shining  cloud. 

With  angel's  voice  and  Trumpet  sounding  loud. 

He  comes  to  save  his  folk  from  all  their  foes. 

And  plague  the  men  that  Holiness  oppose. 

So  come,  Lord  Jesus,  quickly  come,  we  pray ; 

Yea,  come  and  hasten  our  Redemption-day. 


VANITY  OF  VANITIES. 


A    SONG    OF    EMPTINESS. 

Vain,  frail,  sliort-liv'd,  and  miserable  Man, 
Learn  wliat  thou  art  when  thy  estate  is  best ; 
A  restless  Wave  o'  th'  troubled  Oce-an, 
A  Dream,  a  lifeless  Picture  finely  drest. 

A  "Wind,  a  Flower,  a  Vapor,  and  a  Bubble, 
A  Wheel  that  stands  not  still,  a  trembling  Reed, 
A  trolling  Stone,  dry  Dust,  light  Chaff,  and  Stubble, 
A  shadow  of  something  but  truly  naught  indeed. 

Learn  what  deceitful  Toys  and  empty  things 
This  World  and  all  its  best  Enjoyments  be  ; 
Out  of  the  Earth  no  true  Contentment  springs, 
But  all  things  here  are  vexing  Vanity. 

For  what  is  Beauty  but  a  fading  Flower  ? 
Or  what  is  Pleasure  but  the  Devil's  bait. 
Whereby  he  catcheth  whom  he  would  devour, 
And  multitudes  of  Souls  doth  ruinate  ? 

And  what  are  Friends  but  mortal  men  as  we, 
Whom  Death  from  us  may  quickly  separate  ? 
Or  else  their  hearts  may  quite  estranged  be, 
And  all  their  love  be  turned  into  hate. 

And  what  are  Riches  to  be  doted  on  1 

Uncertain,  fickle,  and  ensnaring  things ; 

They  draw  men's  Souls  into  Perditi-on, 

And  when  most  needed  take  them  to  their  wings. 

(107) 


108  VANITY    OF    VANITIES. 

Ah  !  foolisli  man !  that  sets  his  heart  upon 
Such  empty  shadows,  such  wild  Fowl  as  these, 
That  being  gotten  will  be  quickly  gone, 
And  whilst  they  stay  increase  but  his  disease. 

As  in  a  Dropsy,  drinking  drought  begets. 
The  more  he  drinks  the  more  he  still  requires. 
So  on  this  "World  whoso  alFection  sets, 
As  Wealth's  increase,  increaseth  his  desires. 

0  happy  Man,  whose  portion  is  above, 
Where  Floods,  where  Flames,  where  Foes  cannot  be- 
reave him ! 
Most  wretched  Man  that  fix6d  hath  his  love 
Upon  this  World,  that  surely  will  deceive  him  ! 

For  what  is  Honor  ?  what  is  Sovereignty, 
Whereto  men's  hearts  so  restlessly  aspire  ? 
Whom  have  they  crowned  with  Felicity  7 
When  did  they  ever  satisfy  desire  ? 

The  Ear  of  Man  with  hearing  is  not  fill'd ; 
To  see  new  sights  still  coveteth  the  Eye  ; 
The  craving  stomach,  though  it  may  be  still'd, 
Yet  craves  again  without  a  new  supply. 

All  Earthly  things  man's  cravings  answer  not. 
Whose  little  heart  would  all  the  World  contain, 
(If  all  the  World  should  fall  to  one  man's  lot) 
And  notwithstanding  empty  still  remain. 

The  Eastern  Conqueror  was  said  to  weep 
When  he  the  Indian  Oce-an  did  view, 
To  see  his  Conquest  bounded  by  the  Deep, 
And  no  more  Worlds  remaining  to  subdue. 


VANITY    OF    VANITIES.  109 

Who  would  that  man  in  his  Enjoyment  bless, 
Or  envy  him,  or  covet  his  Estate, 
Whose  gettings  do  augment  his  greediness, 
And  make  his  wishes  more  intemperate  ? 

Such  is  the  wonted  and  the  common  guise 
Of  those  on  Earth  that  bear  the  greatest  sway ; 
If  with  a  few  the  case  be  otherwise, 
They  seek  a  Kingdom  that  abides  for  aye. 

Moreover  they  of  all  the  Sons  of  Men 
That  rule,  and  are  in  highest  Places  set, 
Are  most  inclin'd  to  scorn  their  Bretheren, 
And  God  himself  (without  great  Grace)  forget. 

For  as  the  Sun  doth  blind  the  gazers'  eyes, 
That  for  a  time  they  naught  discern  aright, 
So  Honor  doth  befool  and  blind  the  Wise, 
And  their  own  lustre  'reaves  them  of  their  sight. 

Great  are  their  Dangers,  manifold  their  Cares, 
Through  which,  whilst  others  sleep,  they  scarcely  Nap, 
And  yet  are  oft  surprised  unawares. 
And  fall  unwilling  into  Envy's  Trap. 

The  mean  Mechanic  finds  his  kindly  rest ; 
All  void  of  fear  sleepeth  the  Country  Clown ; 
When  greatest  Princes  often  are  distrest. 
And  cannot  sleep  upon  their  Beds  of  Down. 

Could  Strength  or  Valor  men  Immortalize, 
Could  Wealth  or  Ilonor  keep  them  from  decay, 
There  were  some  cause  the  same  to  Idolize, 
And  give  the  lie  to  that  which  I  do  say. 


110  VANJTY     OF    VANITIES. 

But  neither  can  such  things  themselves  endure, 
Without  the  hazard  of  a  change,  one  hour. 
Nor  such  as  trust  in  them  can  they  secure 
From  dismal  days,  or  Death's  prevailing  pow'r. 

If  Beauty  could  the  Beautiful  defend 
From  Death's  dominion,  then  fair  Absalom 
Had  not  been  brought  to  such  a  shameful  end : 
But  fair  and  foul  unto  the  Grave  must  come. 

If  "Wealth  or  Scepters  could  Immortal  make. 
Then,  wealthy  Croesus,  wherefore  art  thou  dead  1 
If  Warlike  force  which  makes  the  World  to  quake, 
Then  why  is  Julius  Caesar  perished  ? 

Where  are  the  Scipio's  Thunderbolts  of  War  ? 
Renowned  Pompey,  Caesar's  Enemy  7 
Stout  Hannibal,  Rome's  Terror  known  so  far  7^ 
Great  Alexander,  what's  become  of  thee  1 

If  Gifts  and  Bribes  Death's  favor  might  but  win, 
If  Pow'r,  if  Force,  or  Threat'nings  might  it  fray. 
All  these,  and  more  had  still  surviving  been ; 
But  all  are  gone,  for  Death  will  have  no  Nay. 

Such  is  this  World,  with  all  her  Pomp  and  Glory ; 
Such  are  the  men  whom  worldly  eyes  admire, 
Cut  down  by  time,  and  now  become  a  Story, 
That  we  might  after  better  things  aspire. 

Go  boast  thyself  of  what  thy  heart  enjoys. 
Vain  Man !  triumph  in  all  thy  worldly  Bliss : 
Thy  best  Enjoyments  are  but  Trash  and  Toys ; 
Delight  thyself  in  that  which  worthless  is. 

Omnia  prcetereunt  prceter  amare  Demn. 


DEATH  EXPECTED  AND  WELCOMED. 


Welcome  sweet  Rest,  by  me  so  long  Desir'd, 
Who  have  with  Sins  and  Griefs  so  long  been  tir'd ; 
And  welcome  Death,  my  Father's  Messenger  ; 
Of  my  Felicity  the  Hastener. 

Welcome  good  Angels,  who,  for  me  distrest. 
Are  come  to  guard  me  to  Eternal  Rest. 
Welcome,  0  Christ,  who  hast  my  Soul  Redeem'd, 
Whose  Favor  I  have  more  than  Life  esteem'd. 

Oh !  do  not  now  my  sinful  soul  forsake, 
But  to  thyself  thy  Servant  gath'ring  take. 
Into  thy  Hands  I  recommend  my  Spirit, 
Trusting  through  Thee  Eternal  Life  t'  inherit. 

(Ill) 


A  FAREWELL  TO  THE  WORLD. 


Now  Farewell,  World,  in  which  is  not  my  Treasure  j 
I  have  in  thee  enjoy'd  but  little  Pleasure. 
And  now  I  leave  thee  for  a  Better  Place, 
Where  lasting  Pleasures  are,  before  Christ's  face. 

Farewell,  ye  Sons  of  Men,  who  do  not  savor 

The  things  of  God ;  who  little  prize  his  Favor. 

Farewell,  I  say,  with  your  Fool's  Paradise, 

Until  the  King  of  Terrors  you  surprise, 

And  bring  you  trembling  to  Christ's  Judgment  Seat, 

To  give  Account  of  your  Transgressions  great. 

Farewell,  New  England,  which  hast  long  enjoy'd 
The  Day  of  Grace,  but  hast  most  vainly  toy'd 
And  trifled  with  the  Gospel's  glorious  Light ; 
Thou  may'st  expect  a  dark  Egyptian  Night. 

Farewell,  young  Brood  and  rising  Generation, 
Wanton  and  proud,  ripe  for  God's  Indignation, 
Which  neither  you  nor  others  can  prevent, 
Except  in  Truth  you  speedily  repent. 

Farewell,  sweet  Saints  of  God,  Christ's  little  Number, 
Beware  lest  ye  through  sloth  securely  slumber ; 
Stand  to  your  Spir'tual  Arms  and  keep  jonv  Watch, 
Let  liot  your  Enemy  you  napping  catch  ; 
Take  up  your  Cross,  prepare  for  Tribulation, 
Through  which  doth  lie  the  way  unto  salvation. 
(11-) 


FAREWELL    TO    THE    WORLD.  113 

Love  Jesus  Christ  with  all  sincerity ; 
Eschew  Will-worship  and  Idolatry. 
Farewell,  again,  until  we  all  appear 
Before  our  Lord,  a  WeU-do7ie  there  to  hear. 

Farewell,  ye  faithful  Servants  of  the  Lord, 

Painful  dispensers  of  his  Holy  TTord, 

From  whose  Communion  and  Society 

I  once  was  kept  through  long  infirmity. 

This  of  my  Sorrows  was  an  aggravation ; 

But  Christ  be  thanked,  through  whose  Mediation 

I  have  at  length  obtained  Liberty 

To  dwell  with  Soul-delighting  Company, 

"Where  many  of  our  Friends  are  gone  before. 

And  you  shall  follow  with  a  many  more. 

Meanwhile  stand  fast,  the  Truth  of  God  maintain. 

Suffer  for  Christ,  and  great  shall  be  your  Gain. 

Farewell,  my  natural  Friends  and  dear  Relations, 

Who  have  my  Trials  seen  and  great  Temptations ; 

You  have  no  cause  to  make  for  me  great  Moan  ; 

My  Death  to  you  is  little  Loss  or  none. 

But  unto  me  it  is  no  little  Gain, 

For  Death  at  once  frees  me  from  all  my  Pain. 

Make  Christ  your  greatest  Friend,  who  never  dies  ; 

All  other  Friends  are  fading  Vanities. 

Make  him  your  Light,  your  Life,  your  End,  your  All  ; 

Prepare  for  Death,  be  ready  for  his  Call. 

Farewell,  vile  Body,  subject  to  decay, 

Which  art  with  lingering  sickness  worn  away ; 

I  have  by  thee  much  Pain  and  Smart  endur'd  ; 

Great  Grief  of  IMind  hast  thou  to  me  procur'd  ; 

Great  Grief  of  !Miud  by  being  Impotent, 

And  to  Christ's  Work  an  awkward  Instrument. 


114  FAREWELL    TO    THE    WORLD. 

Thou  shalt  not  liencefortli  be  a  clog  to  me. 
Nor  sliall  my  Soul  a  Burtlien  be  to  tliee. 

Rest  in  thy  Grave  until  the  Resurrection, 

Then  shalt  thou  be  revived  in  Perfection, 

Endow'd  with  wonderful  Agility, 

Clothed  with  Strength  and  Immortality ; 

"With  shining  Brightness  gloriously  array'd. 

Like  to  Christ's  glorious  Body,  glorious  made. 

Thus  Christ  shall  thee  again  to  me  restore, 

Ever  to  live  with  him  and  part  no  more. 

Meanwhile  my  Soul  shall  enter  into  Peace, 

Where  Fears  and  Tears,  where  Sin  and  Smart  shall  cease. 


A 
CHAKAOTER 

OF  THE  RBVTEREXD   AUTHOR, 


Mu.  MICHAEL  ¥IGGLES¥ORTH, 

IN  A   FCTN-ERAL  SERMON  PREACHED   AT 

MALDEN,    JUNE    2  4,    1705. 


Br  THE  REVEREND  DB.   COTTON  MATHER. 


He  was  Descended  of  Eminently  Religious  Parents, 
wlio  were  Sufferers  for  that  wbich  was  then  The  Cause  of 
God  and  of  New-England.  While  he  was  yet  a  youth,  he 
was  marvellously  concerned  that  he  might  have  an  Heart 
filled  with  the  Spirit  of  God.  This  Concernment  upon 
his  mind  appeared  especially  in  his  watchful  Endeavor.! 
to  have  Spiritual  Sins  chased  out  of  his  cleansed  Heart. 
Pride,  the  Sin  of  Young  Men,  yea,  oi  all  Men  ;  Pridj:, 
the  Sin  which  few  Men  try  or  trouble  themselves  about ; 
this  Devout  Youth  was  full  of  Holy  and  Watchful  Trou- 
ble about  it :  And  he  then  wrote  a  very  Savoury  Dis- 
course, Entituled,  Considerations  against  Pride,  and 
another,  Entituled,  Considerations  against  Delighting 
more  in  the  Creature  tlian  in  God.  This  was  to  Mortify  in 
himself  the  Sins  rarely  minded  by  the  most  of  men. 

Having  had  a  Pious  and  a  Learned  Education,  the  first 
Publick  Station  wherein  I  find  him,  was  that  of  a  Felloio 
and  a  Tutor  in  Harvard  Colledge.     With  a  rare  Faithful- 

115) 


116  FUNERAL    SERMON. 

ness  did  be  adorn  that  Station  !  He  used  all  means 
imaginable  to  make  his  Pupils  not  only  good  Scholars, 
but  also  good  Christians,  and  instil  into  them  those 
things  which  might  render  them  rich  Blessings  unto  the 
Churches  of  God.  Unto  his  "Watchful  and  Painful  Essays 
to  keep  them  close  under  their  Academical  Exercises,  he 
added  Serious  Admonitions  unto  them  about  their  Inte- 
rior State ;  and  he  Employed  his  Prayers  and  Tears  to 
God  for  them,  and  had  such  a  flaming  zeal  to  make 
them  worthy  Men,  that  upon  Reflection  he  was  afraid 
Lest  his  cares  for  their  Good,  and  his  affection  to  them,  should 
so  drink  up  his  very  Spirit,  as  to  steal  away  his  Heart  from 
God. 

From  Cambridge  he  made  his  remove  to  Maiden,  and 
was  their  Faithful  Pastor  for  about  a  Jubilee  of  years 
together. 

It  was  not  long  after  his  coming  to  Maiden  that  a  sickly 
Constitution  so  prevailed  upon  him,  as  to  confine,  him 
from  his  Publick  Work  for  some  whole  seven  of  Years. 
His  Faithfulness  continued  when  his  Ministry  was  thus 
interrupted.  The  Kindness  of  his  Tender  Flock  unto 
him  was  answered  in  his  Kind  Concern  to  have  them 
served  by  other  Hands.  He  took  a  short  voyage  unto 
another  Country  for  the  Recovery  of  his  Health ;  which, 
though  he  recovered  not,  yet  at  his  Return  I  find  him 
comforting  himself  with  inserting  of  this  Passage  in  his 
Reserved  Papers : 

Peradventure  the  Lord  Removed  me  for  a  season  that  he  might 
set  a  better  Watchman  over  his  Flocli,  and  a  more  painful  La-  . 
borer  in  his  Vineyard.     This  was  one  thing  that  I  aimed  at  in 
Removing  (to  help  the  People's  Modesty  in  the  case),  and  I  believe 
the  Lord  aimed  at  it,  in  Removing  me  for  a  season. 

His  Faithfulness  now  appeared  in  his  Edifying  Dis- 
courses to  those  that  came  near  him ;  much  bewailing 


FUNERAL   SERMON  HJ 

the  want  of  a  Profitable  and  Religious  conversation  in  so 
many  that  profess  Religion.  And  that  yet  he  might 
more  Faithfully  set  himself  to  do  Good,  when  he  could 
not  Preach  he  Wrote  several  Composures,  wherein  he 
proposed  the  edification  of  such  Readers  as  are  for  plain 
Truths,  dressed  up  in  a  Plain  Meeter.  These  Compo- 
sures have  had  their  Acceptance  and  Advantage  among 
that  sort  of  Readers  ;  and  one  of  them,  the  Day  of  Doom, 
which  has  been  often  Reprinted  in  both  Englands,  may 
find  our  Children  till  the  Day  itself  arrive. 

It  pleased  God,  when  the  distress  of  the  Church  in 
Blalden  did  extremely  call  for  it,  wondrously  to  restore 
his  Faitliful  Servant.  He  that  had  been  for  near  Twenty 
Years  almost  Buried  Alive,  comes  abroad  again,  and  for 
as  many  years  more,  must,  in  Publick  Usefulness,  receive 
the  Answer  and  Harvest  of  the  Thousands  of  Supplica- 
tions with  which  the  God  of  his  Health  had  favoured  him. 

How  Faithfully  did  he  now  Deliver  the  Whole  Counsel 
of  God  ! 

How  Faithfully  did  he  Rebuke  Sin,  both  in  his  Min- 
istry and  Discipline  ! 

How  Faithful  was  he  to  the  Work  of  God  in  the 
Churches  of  New-England,  and  grieved  at  every  thing 
that  he  thought  had  any  Tendency  to  incommode  that 
Glorious  "Work  !  But  how  Patient,  how  Loving,  how 
Charitable  to  such  as  in  lesser  Matters  differed  from  him  ! 

How  Faithful  was  he  in  the  Education  of  his  Family ! 
A  very  Abraham  for  his  Commands  unto  them,  to  Keep 
the  Way  of  the  Lord  !  A  very  David  for  his  charge  unto 
them  to  Know  the  God  of  their  Father  and  Serve  Him  ! 

His  long  Weakness  and  Illness  made  him  an  able  Phy- 
sician for  the  Body  as  well  the  Soul. 

As  he  was  Faithful  to  the  Death,  so  he  was  Lively  to  the 
Death. 

It  was  a  surprise  to  us  to  see  a  little,  feeble  Shadow 


118  FUNERAL   SERMON. 

of  a  Man,  beyond  Seventy,  Preacliing  usuallj^  twice  or 
thrice  in  a  week,  Visiting,  Comforting  the  Afflicted,  En- 
couraging the  Private  Meetings,  Catechising  the  Chil- 
dren of  the  Flock,  and  managing  the  Government  of  the 
Church,  and  attending  the  Sick,  not  only  as  a  Pastor,  but 
as  a  Physician  too  ;  and  this  not  only  in  his  own  Town, 
but  also  in  all  those  of  the  Vicinity.  Thus  he  did  unto 
the  Last ;  and  he  was  but  one  Lord^ s-Day  taken  off  be- 
fore his  Last.  But  in  the  Last  Week  of  his  Life,  how 
full  of  Resignation  !     IIow  full  of  Satisfaction  ! 

From  his  Exemplary  Life  I  will  single  out  one  thing, 
his  EARLY  RELIGION.  Our  Wigglesicorth  was  a 
Godly  child,  and  he  held  on  living  to  God  and  Christ 
until  the  Seventy-Fourth  Year  of  his  Age. 

When  he  lay  a  Dying,  some  one  spoke  to  him  about 
his  having  secured  his  Interest  in  the  Favor  of  Heaven, 
and  his  Assurance  of  that  Interest.  He  Reply ed,  [Me- 
thoughts  like  my  Polycarp,'] 

I  bless  God  I  began  that  Work  betimes,  and  ere  I  was  Twenty 
Years  Old  I  had  made  thorow  work  of  it.  Ever  since  then  I 
have  been  pressing  after  the  Power  of  Godliness,  the  Power  of 
Godliness !  For  more  than  Fiftj'  Years  together  I  have  been  La- 
boring to  uphold  a  Life  of  Communion  with  God  ;  and  I  thank 
the  Lord  I  now  find  the  Comfort  of  it ! 

Words  that  contain  in  them  A  History  of  a  Life  more 
Valuable  than  I  have  seen  a  Volume  in  Folio. 


EPITAPH. 


(BELIEVED  TO  EUVE  BEEN   WRITTEN  BY  REV.    COTTON   MATHER.) 


THE    EXCELLENT 

W  I  G  G  L  E  S  W  O  R  T  II ; 

KEMEMBERED  BY  SOilE  GOOD  TOKENS. 


Ills  Pen  did  once  Meat  from  the  Eater  fetch  ; 
And  now  he's  gone  beyond  the  Eater'' s  reach. 
His  Body  once  so  TIdn,  was  next  to  None  ; 
From  hence  he's  to  Unbodied  Spirits  flown. 
Once  his  rare  skill  did  all  Diseases  heal  ; 
And  he  does  nothing  now  uneasy  feel. 
He  to  his  Paradise  is  joyful  come, 
And  waits  with  joy  to  see  his  Day  of  Doom,. 

(119) 


CONTENTS. 


PAGE 

Memoir  of  the  Author 3 

Autobiography 10 

To  the  Christian  Reader 13 

On  the  following  Work 18 

Prayer  unto  Christ 20 

The  Day  of  Doom 21 

Security  of  the  World  before  Christ's  coining 21 

Suddenness  and  Terror  of  his  appearing 22 

Resurrection — All  brought  to  judgment 26 

The  Sheep  separated  from  the  goats 27 

The  several  sorts  of  reprobates  described 28 

The  Saints  justified — Election — Atonement 32 

They  are  placed  on  thrones 34 

The  wicked  brought  to  the  Bar 35 

Secret  sins  brought  to  light 38 

Hypocrites  plead  for  themselves ...    40 

Another  sort  of  hypocrites 44 

Civil  honest  men's  pleas 47 

Pretended  want  of  opportunity  to  repent 51 

Plea  of  examples  of  betters 53 

Godly  men's  examples  misleading 54 

Scripture,  darkness,  and  difTereuce  of  interpretation 55 

Fear  of  persecution 56 

Plea  of  God's  mercy  and  justice 58 

Vessels  of  mercy 59 

Mercy  abused — Day  of  grace  past 60 

Shutting  out  by  God's  decree 62 

The  Heathen's  plea 66 

Reprobate  infants'  plea 68 

The  wicked  all  convinced  and  silenced  . .      72 

Hopeless  and  helpless  estate  of  the  ungodly 73 

Sentence  of  condemnation 78 

Sentence  executed — The  wicked  cast  into  Hell 80 

Their  unsutferable  torments 81 

The  saints  rejoice  thereat 83 

They  ascend  in  triumph  to  Heaven 84 

A  Short  discourse  on  Eternity 87 

A  Postscript  unto  the  Reader 93 

Vanity  of  Vanities 107 

Death  expected Ill 

A  Farewell  to  the  World 112 

Funeral  Sermon 115 

Epitaph 119